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A YouGov survey commissioned by the British Safety Council (BSC) has shown that both employers and employees are hopeful about the influence of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) on their workplaces – although decision-makers are more optimistic than their staff.

The survey, published this week, gathered responses from 4018 UK employers and employees.

When questioned about AI, 63% of 2006 employers expressed optimism about the impact this technology would have on their workforce, compared to 41% of 2012 employees who felt the same about its impact on their workplace.

However, just over a quarter (26%) of both employers and employees believed that AI would make their workplace ‘less safe’. This was the same percentage of employers (26%) who thought it would make it ‘safer’, in contrast to only 13% of employees who agreed.

“Change is inevitable”
When asked about the likelihood of their job being replaced or made redundant by AI in the next decade, 68% of employees considered it unlikely, while only 23% thought it was probable. Among the employers, 20% believed that less than 10% of their workforce would be replaced by 2034, whereas 6% anticipated that over 50% of their workforce might be affected.

Levels of optimism about AR and VR were somewhat lower, with 48% and 51% of employers respectively expressing positivity about the impact of these technologies, compared to just 33% and 31% of employees. Both groups were more ambivalent about the effects on workplace safety, with around half anticipating ‘no change’.

Peter McGettrick, Chairman of the BSC, commented: “We commissioned this survey with YouGov to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Health and Safety at Work Act and to explore the future of health, safety, and wellbeing over the next 50 years. The results indicate there is clearly more work to be done to ensure both employers and employees not only benefit from new technologies but also feel reassured and supported regarding the associated risks.

“While no one can predict the future entirely, change is inevitable. This is why we’re urging the Government to provide incentives for companies investing in new and emerging technologies – like AR, VR, and AI – aimed at improving workplace health, safety, and wellbeing. Additionally, we want more support for training to ensure people remain safe, healthy, and well at work.

“Our founder, James Tye, played a key role in pushing the government to establish a royal commission, which ultimately resulted in the Robens Report and the Health and Safety at Work Act. Fast-forward 50 years, we’ve been advocating for wellbeing to be central to health and safety. Recently, we’ve called on Sir Keir Starmer’s new Government to appoint a Minister for Wellbeing to the Cabinet.”

Roundtable discussion on the future of work
The survey results were released following a roundtable discussion about the Future of Work, hosted by the BSC at the beginning of July, and chaired by Nathan Baker, CEO of the Institute of Occupational Medicine.

Baker led a discussion with six experts in workplace health and safety from various fields, including training, legal, technology, auditing, and trade unions: David Sharp, Founder and MD of International Workplace, Dee Arp, Chief Operating Officer of NEBOSH, Sean Elson, Partner at Pinsent Masons, Janet Newsham, Chair of the Hazards Campaign at Greater Manchester Hazards Centre, Peter McGettrick, Chairman of British Safety Council, and Phil Pinnington, Head of Audit & Consultancy at BSC.

Discussing the legacy of the Health and Safety at Work Act, Nathan Baker stated: “If you look at where we were in 1974 compared to now, the world is a safer place. From 1974 to 2015, workplace fatalities fell by 85%, a significant reduction. Non-fatal injuries decreased by 77% over the same period. However, asbestos-related deaths have increased tenfold, and we still lose 35 million workdays annually due to ill health and injury, costing the economy £20.7 billion.”

Dee Arp remarked that the Act provided a “great framework” but noted there is still much work to be done. “Whenever we mention statistics, we must remember that behind each number is a person, a family, and friends,” she said. “Additionally, there are numerous mental health issues that are underreported.”

Janet Newsham added: “The Health and Safety at Work Act has been fantastic and achieved many good things, but over 50,000 people still die each year due to work-related exposure to hazardous substances, and the mental health crisis continues to grow. We estimate that work-related suicides could account for about 10% of all suicides in the country, but these are neither reported nor investigated, so there is still much to be done to keep people safe.”

New and emerging issues
Reflecting on the shift from a focus solely on safety to a broader emphasis on health, Phil Pinnington said: “This shift continues with a focus on wellbeing, mental health, and stress management. These are areas that the authors of the 1974 Act could never have anticipated.”

“The risks now are different from those 20, 30, or 50 years ago”
From a legal standpoint, Sean Elson noted a significant increase in cases related to mental and occupational health issues. “We are now regularly involved in cases of student suicides, which was unthinkable ten years ago. This has become a major issue in the academic sector, and there are growing concerns about the impact on staff as well,” he said.

Discussing the impact of new and emerging technologies like AI, David Sharp added: “The risks today are different from those of the past. There is a lack of awareness about the implications of our current situation. In ten years, we might look back and realise we were too focused on technological solutions at the expense of people.”

Dee Arp commented: “In this rapidly changing environment, it all comes back to people. How is AI helping people, and what do we need to do to help people embrace these unprecedented changes? AI lacks empathy and a conscience.”