By Konrad Kodjo Djaisi
The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is commemorated annually on 28th April to honour the hundreds of thousands of people who are killed or injured while working.
On this occasion, Trades Union Congress Secretary General Joshua Ansah stated that as we confront realities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it is crucial to recognize and address the profound influence of emerging technologies on the world of work and their impact on workers’ health and safety.
“The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT) and other cutting-edge technologies is transforming industries and workplaces at an unprecedented pace.”
While these advancements bring significant benefits, including enhanced efficiency and productivity, they also introduce new challenges and risks to workers’ health and safety, the TUC Secretary-General added.
On one hand, emerging technologies offer the potential to improve working conditions, reduce exposure to hazardous tasks and enhance worker well-being. On the other hand, these technologies can introduce new hazards such as increased exposure to musculoskeletal disorders from prolonged device usage or accidents resulting from human-machine interactions.
To mitigate the negative impacts of emerging technologies on workers’ health and safety, the TUC urges policymakers, employers, unions and technology developers to implement and enforce robust safety protocols that prevent accidents and injuries associated with the use of new technologies.
Joshua Ansah therefore further stated: “As we navigate the complexities brought about by emerging technologies, it is vital to place workers’ health and safety at the forefront.
“Furthermore, we call on government to expedite passage of the Occupational Safety, Health and Environment (OSHE) bill to provide enhanced protection for the working people of Ghana.”
The TUC also urges employers and governments across Africa to invest significantly in OSHE systems to minimise or eliminate preventable deaths and injuries at workplaces.
AI and digital tools are revolutionising occupational safety and health. Today, robots are operating in hazardous environments, doing the heavy lifting, managing toxic materials and working in extreme temperatures.
In the absence of adequate OSH measures, digital technologies can lead to accidents, ergonomic risks, work intensification, reduced job control and blurred boundaries.
In 2003, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) began to observe World Day for Safety and Health at Work in order to stress the prevention of accidents and diseases at work, capitalising on the ILO’s traditional strengths of tripartism and social dialogue.
This celebration is an integral part of the Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health of the ILO, as documented in the Conclusions of the International Labour Conference of June 2003.
One main pillar of the Global Strategy is advocacy; the World Day for Safety and Health at Work is a significant tool to raise awareness of how to make work safe and healthy and the need to raise the political profile of occupational safety and health.
