Ceemet, the voice of Europe’s manufacturing, engineering, and technology (MET) industries, has proudly joined the latest European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) campaign: “Safe and Healthy Work in the Digital Age”. This year, the focus is on artificial intelligence-driven worker management (AIWM) — a timely and important topic as digitalisation rapidly reshapes the modern workplace.
Understanding AI-driven worker management
AI-based worker management (AIWM) refers to digital systems that gather real-time data from the workplace, workers, and tasks, feeding it into algorithmic or artificial intelligence (AI) systems to make automated or semi-automated decisions. These systems help allocate work tasks, establish shifts, and evaluate worker performance.
While still relatively new, the use of AIWM is growing, particularly in larger companies and sectors involving manual or routine tasks. According to EU-OSHA’s OSH Pulse 2022 survey, 30% of workers reported that digital devices were used to automatically allocate their work tasks and shifts, while 52% indicated that their speed of work was determined by digital technologies.
The implementation of AIWM offers clear potential benefits, including improved task allocation, early warnings about occupational health risks, and personalised support for workers through tools like AI-driven chatbots.
AI-based worker management in action: Case studies from MET industries
Across Europe, there are inspiring examples demonstrating that AI can contribute positively to occupational safety and health when implemented thoughtfully:
- In a 2024 report, Ceemet member Make UK examines AI adoption in UK manufacturing, and the opportunities and challenges these technologies present for the sector. At Marks & Spencer’s distribution centres in the UK, Protex AI technology proactively identifies risks, helping to keep workers safer and reduce accidents (by 80% over three months).
- In Switzerland, Georg Fischer provides service technicians with an AI-assisted mobile application that offers real-time information on fault diagnostics and repairs, making field service operations safer and more efficient.
Further examples cited by EU-OSHA include an Italian automotive parts manufacturer using AIWM systems to reduce worker stress and improve work–life balance, and a Belgian car manufacturer optimising assembly line health and safety through AIWM.
These examples confirm that AIWM can significantly enhance workplace well-being while increasing competitiveness and productivity of workers and companies.
About the campaign
As a long-standing partner of EU-OSHA, Ceemet actively participates in European-level health and safety initiatives. Recognising both the opportunities and challenges of AI at work, Ceemet and IndustriAll-Europe have jointly developed conclusions to responsibly manage the risks of AI deployment. Their joint conclusions, published on 22 February 2023, acknowledge the creative potential of AI and highlight that “AI not only replaces repetitive or dangerous tasks, it also creates new jobs and will enable work on more creative tasks.”
The campaign on AI-driven worker management led by EU-OSHA runs from February to May 2025, as part of the broader two-year Healthy Workplaces initiative, to which Ceemet has been part of. It is an opportunity for stakeholders to contribute knowledge, share experiences, and promote best practices for safe, healthy, and productive AI-driven work environments.
Organisations interested in learning more or participating can find extensive resources and case studies on the EU-OSHA campaign website.
Together, through collaborative efforts, we can ensure that the future of AI at work is safe, healthy, and inclusive while contributing to European competitiveness.