Workplace safety and future and emerging ways of work: A systematic literature review. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cheng, Ting Chi (Alice); Caponecchia, Carlo; O'Neill, Sharron
• Is Part Of: Safety science. Volume 155(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Future of work -- Future and emerging ways of work -- Risk management -- Human factors and ergonomics; FEWW Future and Emerging Ways of Work -- OHS Occupational Health and Safety -- HFE Human Factors and Ergonomics -- ICT Information and Communication Technologies; Industrial accidents -- Periodicals; Accident Prevention -- Periodicals; Safety -- Periodicals; Travail -- Accidents -- Périodiques; 363.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2022.105873
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0925-7535

Abstract

Highlights: Future and emerging ways of work (FEWW) can impact workplace safety. Factors that drive FEWW include globalisation, technology and demographic changes. Systems perspectives are advocated approaches for dealing with FEWW. Changes to risk management may be needed to deal with FEWW impacts on safety. Conceptual model of FEWW to help adapt risk management activities. Abstract: Changes to work due to globalisation and technology can have profound effects for the management of health and safety now and into the future. This paper addresses 1) how has workplace safety been considered in the Future and Emerging Ways of Work (FEWW) literature; 2) what is the quality of the literature that considers workplace safety in the context of FEWW; and 3) what future research is needed to advance our knowledge of workplace safety in the context of FEWW. 29 articles, including grey literature were identified from an extensive search across four databases. The review highlighted there is limited literature in this research field and reliance on lower-level methodologies in FEWW studies, such as narrative review and stakeholder workshops. There is also concern with the current risk management process regarding whether it can accommodate the changing nature of work. The risk management processes can be refined for FEWW by adopting a multidisciplinary approach using a Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) perspective that considers how dimensions of work change affect work design. We propose that future research is required to better understand how changes to work and organisational design can impact on workplace safety in FEWW, including safety processes, new ways of collecting data to monitor safety and health from a more dynamic workforce, enforcement activities by safety regulators, as well as the implications on workers' health and wellbeing.