On April 28, the World Labor Protection Day is celebrated worldwide.
Monday, 28 April 2025
World Day for Safety and Health at Work, observed
annually on April 28, is a global event.
In 2025, it focuses on the theme “Revolutionary approaches to occupational safety and health:
the role of artificial intelligence and digitalization in the workplace”.
In the Republic of Belarus, occupational safety is given unconditional priority.
The right to safe working conditions is one of the most important guarantees enshrined in the Constitution
of the Republic of Belarus. A key feature of occupational safety policy in our country is the active role of
the state through available mechanisms and procedures. These include the development and adoption
of legislation that defines mandatory requirements, guarantees, and the responsibilities of all involved parties.
Current innovations in occupational safety include:
- robotics;
- artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning;
- exoskeletons;
- Internet of Things;
- virtual and augmented reality.
Let’s look at how new technologies are applied in occupational safety:
- New enterprises increasingly operate on the "zero people in mines/factories" concept. Widespread use of robotics reduces costs and auxiliary work time.
- AI-based robotics significantly improves workplace safety by reducing injuries and fatalities through the removal of hazardous machinery exposure. Autonomous mobile robots are widely used in hospital logistics, replacing orderlies, caregivers, nannies, and cleaners. Robots are equipped with multi-sensor safety systems and route planning algorithms for safe movement and task execution.
- AI helps diagnose and detect occupational diseases;
- Smart personal protective equipment (PPE) gathers data about workers and their working conditions (smart boots, smart helmets). In Belarus, the company "Vitebskoblgaz" implemented an AI-based PPE monitoring system. Training and access to work are fully automated.
- Virtual reality is a valuable tool for safety training in high-risk industries.
Artificial intelligence and digitalization help create safe and healthy working environments,
improve well-being and productivity, and reduce incident- and injury-related costs.