In recent years, digitalisation has changed our working environment, presenting challenges, risks and opportunities. Today, the emergence of AI is boosting business productivity while requiring new skills and once again adapting the working environment.
In 2018, Ceemet published its second Digitalisation and the World of Occupational Safety and Health report. The main conclusion of the report is that we haven’t reached the limits of the benefits digitalisation has to offer. This report was highlighted in many forums in 2022.
Digitalisation continues to advance within MET companies in the world of work, with the emergence of artificial intelligence in particular. In its latest report on the use of data and AI by MET industries, Ceemet looks at how data and AI are already being implemented in these industries.
Creating digital solutions is essential to the competitiveness of our companies. It increases productivity, keeps workers healthy, and remains high on the EU political agenda. While MET employers are conscious that the digitalisation of work has created challenges, it has also provided a multitude of solutions.
Ceemet’s three main priorities for digitalisation are:
Striving for a healthier workplace
Digital technology is increasingly complementing human labour at the workplace. In eight categories, Ceemet lists what should be considered to integrate OSH and mitigate challenges:
- Cobots: New cobots can assist in decision-making and should spark a rethink on how risk assessments can be done best.
- Flexible working: OSH must evolve to provide guidance rather than trying to control all of the known risks.
- New forms of management: Wearables allow for monitoring and providing feedback on the employees’ health. This can result in adapted decisions, improving OSH.
- Sensors & smart Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Smart PPE can signal when there is a problem and protect employees by correcting behaviour.
- Ergonomics & Exoskeletons: Good ergonomics and the use of exoskeletons can keep workers at the workplace for an extended time.
- Psychosocial risks: Human interface software can go some way to avoiding these risks.
- Artificial Intelligence: Data derived from Artificial Intelligence can help OSH professionals make better decisions. This is a further move toward evidence-based OSH and better protection.
Boosting competitiveness through artificial intelligence
AI has become a key driver of productivity, efficiency and task improvement in the workplace. However, it is essential to build a better environment to encourage innovation and implementation of AI tools to regain EU competitiveness. Ceemet considers that it’s important to:
- Implement the official EU definition of AI which includes three key elements: machine learning, autonomy and adaptability.
- Respect a human-centric approach to Human Resources AI is a tool designed to assist human work.
- Avoid new legislation as AI systems at the workplace is already regulated by the AI Act, the GDPR and other relevant EU and national legislations
- Use AI to improve health and safety at work AI contributes to a healthier working environment and plays an important role in preventing occupational risks by offering innovative solutions and reducing dangerous tasks.
- Ensure that the workforce is well prepared to work with AI.
- Stimulate investment in AI to boost growth and innovation.
- Promote social dialogue for the fair adoption of AI Social dialogue has already proven its importance in facilitating the integration of new technologies within companies.
Preparing employees for future skills needs
For years, Europe has been suffering from a skills shortage on top of a labour shortage. Digitalisation has accelerated the skills shortage. New technologies are evolving at an ever-increasing pace, and the emergence of AI continues to widen the existing gap. Companies are desperately seeking skilled workers to ensure that these technologies are used properly and to enable them to remain competitive.
To this end, Ceemet and its experts consider it essential to:
- Equip workers with the skills they need for the future. Workers must be retrained or upskilled so that they can develop and use digital and artificial intelligence tools.
- Develop collaboration between public authorities, education systems and social partners to identify the skills needed and adapt the education system to new technologies.
- Help MET industries attract young people to the sector and reinforce the importance of STEM in basic education.
- Support the VET system and lifelong learning in order to equip employees with the skills they need and avoid leaving them behind.
- Retrain or upgrade the workforce, in addition to adapting it to constantly evolving technology through the mobilisation of social partners.
The digital transformation is accelerating rapidly.
Digitalisation is no longer a novel concept. The significant potential it holds for manufacturing companies, individuals, and European society as a whole is uncontested. Digital manufacturing technologies are transforming every link in the manufacturing value chain. Digital connectivity among designers, managers, workers, consumers, and physical industrial assets has the potential to unlock enormous value and change the manufacturing landscape forever. It opens up opportunities for enhancements in a number of key areas, such as increased competitiveness, better operational efficiency and safety, enhanced productivity performance, and the analytic use of intelligent plant data to inform strategic decision-making. This transformation, however, requires strong investment in infrastructure, new technologies and humans.