World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2025: AI and Digital Tools Reshaping Workplace Safety
Each year on April 28, the International Labour Organization (ILO) marks the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, highlighting the importance of preventing workplace accidents and promoting safe, healthy working environments. In 2025, the ILO is focusing on a theme that reflects a major shift in the modern workplace: “How Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies Are Transforming Occupational Safety and Health.”
AI and digital tools are revolutionizing occupational safety and health (OSH) across industries. Today, robots are stepping into hazardous environments – managing toxic materials, handling extreme temperatures, and performing heavy or repetitive tasks. These technologies are not only improving efficiency but also protecting workers from some of the most dangerous aspects of their jobs. Digital sensors and devices can now detect risks in real time, helping prevent accidents before they happen.
However, the ILO also cautions that without proper OSH safeguards, these same technologies can introduce new challenges. Poorly implemented digital systems can lead to accidents, ergonomic issues, work intensification, reduced job control, and blurred boundaries between work and personal life.
This year’s World Day serves as both a celebration of innovation and a reminder: as we embrace AI and digital tools in the workplace, it’s vital to ensure they are deployed responsibly, ethically, and with worker well-being at the center. Only then can we create safer, more inclusive, and resilient work environments for the future.
