Research

AUTOMATION REDUCES PHYSICAL INJURIES AT WORK BUT CARRIES SOCIETAL RISKS 

Research out of the North America and Europe has examined the relationship between increased automation of physical activities at work, and workers safety. Using a combination of workplace injury data and data on the uptake of robotics in the workplace from both the United States and Germany, the study found that higher levels of robotic exposure resulted in a decrease in the number of physical injuries. The study connects this to a potential reduction in musculoskeletal injuries where robots are used for physically intensive tasks, as well as injuries from potential human error for highly repetitive tasks.  

Despite these benefits, areas in the United States with high levels of robotic automation had correspondingly high levels of substance abuse resulting in death, as well as increases in reporting of mental health problems. Interestingly, there was no significant increase in either of these factors in study areas in Germany. The study interprets the increase in US study areas as a result of labor market pressures and economic uncertainty which have been apparently offset in Germany by significant increases in alternative employment.  

Source:  Gihleb, Rania, Giuntella, Osea ,Stella , Luca, Wang, Tianyi. (2022). Industrial robots, Workers’ safety, and health. Labour Economics, 78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2022.102205. 

Share Tweet

RELATED

ASK RENATA
I’ve heard that 9-inch grinders have been banned on construction sites. Can you confirm this is true?
Read More
WORLD OHS CONGRESS: THREE PILLARS OF ACTION
The 23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work, has commenced in Sydney, with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) emphasising the urgency required to address work-related accidents and diseases.
Read More
COVID NUMBERS CONTINUE TO CLIMB
Victorian data taken from Department of Health Weekly Report 24 November 2023. The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 increased this week to a daily average of 325, up from 317 last week. The...
Read More