Today the FORSA 2024 event was held, coinciding with the European Health and Safety Week which has brought together leading experts who have analyzed the challenges that digitalization presents in the workplace. The initiative, led by Carmen Soler, expert in strategic organizational well-being, has had more than 150 registeredwhich have followed the exhibitions on how technological transformation and AI can impact work environments.
Mª Jesús Otero (INSST): Adapting to the digital and demographic transitions
Mª Jesús Otero opened the event by highlighting the importance of the digital and demographic transitions, two great challenges that are redefining the world of work. “Digitalization is transforming all aspects of the economy, from production to services, modifying consumption patterns and labor relations,” he stated. According to Otero, this implies profound changes not only in job demands, but also in psychosocial risks: “Jobs are becoming less physical, but cognitive and emotional demands are increasing.”
Furthermore, Otero has pointed out that technology is not alleviating the workload, but although it may seem contradictory, it is intensifying the work. «We are forced to respond at a speed that does not correspond to human capacity. Technology advances quickly, but we cannot demand that people do so at the same pace, so as not to impact greater stress,” he commented, referring to techno-stress as an emerging problem. “Now, not only do we work longer hours, but digital disconnection is becoming more necessary than ever, given that the pressure to always be connected impacts our health,” he stressed.
As for the demographic transitionOtero has pointed out that “we are facing a scenario of aging of the active population, with more workers over 65 years of age and a decrease in birth rates.” This demographic change requires that preventive measures be adapted according to age: «We cannot treat all workers in the same way and this extends to all generations of workers. “Physical and cognitive abilities vary with age, and prevention must adapt to these differences.”
Otero has also pointed out the digital gaps that arise with the demographic transition: «It is not only a question of training, but of inequality. “Older workers or those living in rural areas or with lower qualifications face greater difficulties in adapting to digital technologies, which generates additional risks and inequalities in access to job opportunities.”
Antonio Díaz (APA and AESPLA): The human factor and AI in the prevention of occupational risks
Antonio Díaz, representing the Association for the Prevention of Accidents (APA), has highlighted the importance of the “human factor”, present in 80% of work accidents. Díaz has presented a project based on artificial intelligence developed by the startup Nyuron, which uses a chatbot to predict work behaviors and risks: «This system captures key worker skills, such as their ability to concentrate, self-control or perception of risk, and suggests areas “personalized improvement measures to reduce accidents.”
Díaz explained that AI makes it possible to precisely identify in which areas each employee needs more training, which reinforces prevention at an individual level: “The objective is for technology to accompany both the worker and middle managers, helping in the management of competencies and minimizing risks.
Victoria Marín (Redeia): Emotion Project and emotional health at work
Victoria Marín, representative of Redeia (formerly Red Eléctrica Group), has announced the innovative “Emotion Project”, which integrates emotional health into the management of occupational risks. Marín has explained that, by operating his company in the electricity sector, the company’s employees are exposed to significant risks, such as falls from heights or incidents with electrical connections.
The “Emotion Project” includes a daily emotional evaluation of workers through a chatbot, which monitors their emotional state and personalizes the action plan according to each profile: “We have designed an individualized emotional profile for each employee, which allows us to offer adapted training and specific preventive measures, with the aim of reducing the risk of accidents as much as possible,” explained Marín.
Marta González (Santalucía): Digitalization of well-being in companies
Marta González Santalucía has highlighted how her company has digitalized a comprehensive well-being plan for its employees, in place for three years. “Our culture is focused on well-being and health, ranging from physical activity and nutrition to emotional management,” he commented. Santalucía’s plan seeks to improve the quality of life of employees and their efficiency: “Digitalization has allowed us to adapt to individual and collective needs, ensuring that our strategy has a positive impact on all our workers,” González explained.
Mercedes Sanchis (IBV): Technology as a key to ergonomics and prevention
Mercedes Sanchis, from the Institute of Biomechanics of Valencia (IBV), has presented the most recent advances in work ergonomics, highlighting the key role of artificial intelligence and technology to improve working conditions and prevent health problems. “At the IBV we have implemented tools such as digital twins and exoskeletons, which allow us to analyze workers’ movements and postures in real time, which helps reduce musculoskeletal risks,” explained Sanchis.
Sanchis has also highlighted the importance of artificial intelligence to predict musculoskeletal disorders: “We are working on predictive models that allow us to anticipate health problems before they occur, which places us at the forefront of occupational prevention.” However, he has also mentioned ethical challenges: «The use of this technology raises ethical dilemmas, such as the possibility that information about a worker’s physical limitations influences hiring or task assignment decisions.
María Lapena (international consultant): Ethical challenges of AI in the work environment
María Lapena, an expert in evaluating ethical issues in the application of artificial intelligence, has offered a crucial perspective on the ethical risks involved in the growing implementation of these technologies in the workplace. “There are already regulatory barriers in place,” he explained.
Lapena has pointed out the importance of guaranteeing that decisions made by AI do not violate fundamental rights. The Data Protection Law already protects certain aspects that may occur in the use of AI, but we need to move towards more comprehensive regulation. He has also highlighted that the next two years will be crucial, since the European regulation is expected to come into force, which seeks to establish a clear legal framework for its use in companies and will include sanctions for those that fail to comply with the rules.
The event concluded with a clear focus: technology must be an ally to improve occupational health, but always with people at the center of the strategy. Ethical and psychosocial challenges emerge as key factors that companies must manage consciously and responsibly in the coming years.
Would you like to see the interventions of this interesting event? Forsa 2024