Advanced robotics and automation: Key considerations for human interaction and trust
This policy brief examines the occupational safety and health implications of advanced robotics and automation, focusing on human-robot interaction, anthropomorphic design, system transparency, and worker trust. It highlights how design choices influence workers' expectations, safety, and well-being, while recommending the application of established ergonomic principles and appropriate transparency to foster effective collaboration. Commissioned by EU-OSHA, the brief provides insights for designing safer and more intuitive automated workplaces.
Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.
Who issued it
Who it governs
This policy brief is for researchers, developers, policymakers, and employers seeking to understand the human factors and occupational safety implications of deploying advanced robotics in workplaces.
What the document contains
The document addresses occupational safety and health considerations related to advanced robotics and automation, focusing specifically on human-robot interaction design, anthropomorphic features, transparency, and the psychological and operational factors influencing worker trust.
The text does not provide binding legal regulations, explicit enforcement mechanisms, or concrete technical specifications for mitigating automation bias beyond general training recommendations.
- The growing autonomy of advanced robots shifts the human-robot relationship from 'use' to 'interaction', directly impacting occupational safety and health.
- Anthropomorphic design can improve interaction and task performance, but can also trigger false expectations and negative emotions like the uncanny valley if capabilities do not match appearance.
- Applying established ergonomic interaction principles, such as those in EN ISO 9241-110, helps guide user-centered development and improves usability.
- System transparency is critical for calibrating trust and preventing misunderstandings, but must be balanced against the risk of operator information overload.
- Both excessive trust and mistrust can lead to dangerous situations, misuse, or disuse of robotic systems in the workplace.
· Anthropomorphic robot design · Interaction principles and transparency in HRI · Trust as a key aspect in HRI · Influential factors on trust · Conclusion and recommendations
How it scores
Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.
Fairness
0/5Non-discrimination and equitable treatment
screening score · 2026-10-25
Transparency
3/5Openness about how AI systems work and are used
Transparency in HRI is important. However, too much information might cause an information overload and hinder processing of critical information.
Interaction principles and transparency in HRI
screening score · 2026-10-25
Enforcement
0/5Consequences and compliance mechanisms with real force
screening score · 2026-10-25
Impact Assessment
2/5Required assessment of an AI system's risks/impacts before or during use
These different interaction design aspects are to varying degrees associated with OSH risks and opportunities.
1 POLICY BRIEF ADVANCED ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION
screening score · 2026-10-25