What is it about?
Working life has evolved because of, for example, industrial revolutions, changes in demographic structures, climate change and different forms of work. It is expected that the development affects also occupational health and safety (OHS) and brings new opportunities and challenges. This paper examines the new and emerging OHS risks with an interesting twist: what was considered as new OHS risk before 2000 and what from 2020 onwards? In the paper, similarities and differences in the OHS risks are discussed alongside with OHS management suggestions.
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Why is it important?
Our findings show that similar new and emerging OHS risks were discussed in both time periods and that differences are due to specific time-related cases, like climate change and COVID-19 now and like for instance HIV in the past. This study supports the view that changes in work are constant and that there are some issues irrespective of time that should be considered from the OHS management perspective. In order to prevent the negative OHS effects, it is necessary to recognize the new and emerging risks and manage them.
Perspectives
I really much enjoyed writing this article. It was interesting to see what was considered as new OHS risks decades ago and compare them to currently recognized emerging OHS risks. I hope you find this article thought-provoking.
Maria Lindholm
Tampere University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The evolution of new and emerging occupational health and safety risks: A qualitative review, Work, May 2024, IOS Press,
DOI: 10.3233/wor-230005.
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