When people hear the term "safety technology," they often think of digital management systems designed to capture hazards, incident reports and compliance data. While these tools play an important role in workplace safety, they represent only a fraction of the broader spectrum of technologies that shape the design, experience, and risk profile of work.
“Safety technology” isn’t just software. It includes everything from simple mechanical tools, such as a trolley that reduces manual handling risks, to complex artificial intelligence systems that analyze CCTV footage for hazardous zone management. A paper checklist, an ergonomic chair, a wearable sensor, or an autonomous drone are all forms of safety technology.
For safety professionals, understanding technology through this expanded lens is a skill. It empowers us to step into a more strategic role, one that influences the adoption of responsible and effective innovations rather than reacting to them.
The challenge isn’t selecting the latest innovations to trial; it’s clearly defining the problem you’re trying to solve and identifying the right combination of tools that align with your organization’s readiness, resources, and goals.
The Problem with the Current View of Safety Technology
One of the biggest misconceptions about workplace safety technology is that it primarily revolves around digital systems for compliance and incident tracking. This narrow view creates several challenges:
- Overwhelming choice—Safety professionals are bombarded with emerging technologies and flashy marketing claims and “AI snake oil”, making it difficult to determine which innovations truly enhance safety.
- Lack of role clarity—Many safety professionals are often excluded from workplace technology procurement or digital transformation discussions, even though their expertise is critical to evaluating risks and benefits.
- Failure to define high-value use cases—Without clearly defining the health and safety problems that technology is designed to be solving, organizations risk implementing tools that create more risk, frustration, and administrative burden.
Technology has always been a double-edged sword, especially in safety. Industry 4.0 technologies have the potential to improve safety, efficiency, and risk management, but success depends on how and why organizations adopt it. Too often, technology is introduced not to support workers but to monitor them, fueling distrust, resistance, and even new risks.
This article originally appeared in the April/May 2025 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.
