LEAN Barcelona 2026
The Shadow of Algorithms: Invisible Risks in OSH
In the age of digitalisation, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) algorithms have become indispensable tools for businesses. However, behind the apparent objectivity of these algorithms lie invisible risks that can have devastating consequences.
The opacity of OHS algorithms can lead to the creation of spurious causal relationships between variables, which can generate a false sense of security. For example, an algorithm may identify a correlation between the use of personal protective equipment and a reduction in accidents, without considering other factors that may be influencing the situation.
This lack of transparency can have serious consequences, such as:
- Workplace accidents that could have been prevented
- Low productivity due to failure to identify real risks
- Deficiencies in business sustainability
- Loss of confidence in OSH systems
It is essential that companies and OSH professionals are aware of these invisible risks and take steps to address them. Some of the solutions include:
- Increasing transparency in OSH algorithms
- Performing sensitivity analysis and model validation
- Incorporating the experience and knowledge of workers into the decision-making process
- Establishing mechanisms for continuous review and evaluation of OSH systems
OSH is not just a matter of numbers and algorithms; it is a matter of people and lives. It is time for companies and OSH professionals to take invisible risks seriously and work together to create a safer and healthier working environment for everyone.
What can we do to address invisible risks in OSH?
- Demand transparency in OSH algorithms
- Perform sensitivity analyses and model validation
- Incorporate workers’ experience and knowledge
- Establish mechanisms for continuous review and evaluation
Occupational safety and health is a fundamental right. We cannot allow invisible risks to prevent us from achieving it.
Director ORP
