Apps, Wearables and VR | Is New SafetyTech Doing More Harm Than Good?

A comprehensive new research report from Lloyd's Register Foundation's Global Safety Evidence Centre has raised critical questions about the true impact of emerging safety technologies on occupational health and safety in the workplace. The expansive review, examining everything from smartphone apps to collaborative robots, reveals a concerning gap between the promise of SafetyTech and the evidence of its effectiveness on the employees they supposedly protect and the workplaces they occupy.

As health and safety professionals navigate an increasingly digital workplace, understanding both the opportunities and pitfalls of these technologies has never been more crucial for the contemporary occupational health and safety professional.

The Promise vs. The Reality

The SafetyTech market continues to expand rapidly, with technologies ranging from wearable devices monitoring worker fatigue to VR systems training employees on hazard recognition. The Lloyd's Register Foundation report identified significant benefits in specific applications - particularly smartphone apps promoting behaviour change and AR/VR training programmes in high-risk sectors like construction.

Research shows smartphone applications can effectively reduce sedentary behaviour, improve employee mental health, and even lower workplace stress levels. Several randomised controlled trials demonstrate that safety-focused mobile apps can generate measurable improvements in worker wellbeing, with some studies showing reduced depressive symptoms and improved sleep patterns among participants.

Similarly, AR and VR training technologies show genuine promise. Meta-analysis data indicates these immersive technologies enhance engagement and knowledge retention compared to traditional training methods, particularly for hazard identification in construction environments, which is why we have begun to implement these methods into our courses.

The Concerning Counterargument

However, the research reveals troubling gaps in our understanding of SafetyTech's broader impact. Perhaps most significantly, the study found that in a survey of nearly 5,000 UK employees, more respondents reported their health and safety risks had worsened rather than improved due to workplace technology over the past three years.

The evidence base remains "limited and uneven," with most studies being small-scale and lacking robust counterfactuals. This is particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of algorithmic management systems and emotional AI technologies, which the research identifies as potentially "transformative" technologies with profound implications for worker psychosocial health.

Key concerns from the report include:

• Privacy erosion: Wearable devices and monitoring systems capture extensive personal data, potentially infringing on workers privacy.
• Responsibility transfer: Technology may shift OSH responsibility from employers to employees, increasing individual stress and burden.
• False security: Over-reliance on technological solutions may lead to complacency in addressing fundamental safety management systems.
• Psychosocial risks: Algorithmic management and emotional AI systems may increase work-related stress, reduce job autonomy, and weaken workplace relationships.

The Evidence Gap That Matters Most

The research highlights a big paradox. The technologies receiving the most attention and positive evidence - smartphone apps and VR training - may be among the least transformative.

Meanwhile, the technologies with the greatest potential to reshape workplace safety - algorithmic management, emotional AI, and advanced monitoring systems - have the weakest evidence base despite their widespread adoption. A concerning thought indeed.

This disconnect is particularly problematic because many of these technologies are implemented primarily for productivity and efficiency gains, not safety improvements.

Without systematic evaluation of their OSH impacts, we risk unintended consequences that could undermine decades of safety progress.

A Framework for Moving Forward

As HSE professionals, we must approach SafetyTech with informed scepticism while remaining open to genuine innovation. The research suggests several critical actions:

Due diligence is Essential

Before implementing any SafetyTech solution, conduct rigorous risk assessments that consider both intended safety benefits and potential unintended consequences, particularly regarding worker stress and privacy.

Foundational Practices First

Ensure all technological interventions complement, rather than replace, robust safety management systems. Technology should enhance existing risk controls, not become the primary control measure.

Worker Consultation Matters

Involve employees in the selection, implementation, and evaluation of safety technologies. The research consistently shows that worker acceptance and trust are crucial for effectiveness.

Evidence-Based Decisions

Demand robust evidence from technology vendors. Small case studies and vendor testimonials are insufficient for technologies that may affect thousands of workers.

The Path to Responsible Innovation

The SafetyTech revolution offers genuine opportunities to enhance workplace safety, but only if we approach it with a healthy dose of scepticism. The most effective applications at the moment appear to be those that support behaviour change and skills development rather than replace human judgment or increase surveillance.

Organisations must resist the temptation to view technology as a quick fix for complex safety challenges. Instead, we need sustained investment in understanding how these tools interact with existing workplace dynamics, worker wellbeing, and safety culture.

We’re not at a stage where wholesale implementation is viable. We must seek first to understand their impact, and phase them in as research and hard data develop. Enhancement, not replacement, is the name of the game.

The Lloyd's Register Foundation research makes clear that the safety technology landscape requires more rigorous evaluation and evidence-based implementation. As the industry continues to evolve, health and safety professionals have a crucial role in ensuring these powerful tools serve their intended purpose: making workplaces genuinely safer for everyone.

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