Emerging technologies and the safety and health of working people: knowledge gaps and research directions

Abstract

"Changes in technologies have far outpaced our knowledge about the implications of these changes for the quality of working life and for safety and health on the job. This gap in knowledge is one of the 21 priority areas for research under the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) - a framework crafted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and its partners to guide research into the next decade. This report was developed under NORA as a foundation for a comprehensive research agenda for investigating and reducing occupational safety and health risks as well as intervention opportunities associated with emerging technologies. Research and development needs identified in the agenda include (1) improved surveillance mechanisms to better track the emergence of technology, (2) accelerated research on safety and health implications of emerging technology, (3) increased research focus on protecting and promoting safety and health in emerging technology fields, and (4) steps to formalize and nurture emerging technology as a distinct field within occupational safety and health." - NIOSHTIC-21. The future of technology -- 2. Identifying emerging technologies -- 3. Anticipating the impact of emerging technologies -- 4. Achieving inherently safer designs -- 5. Integrated approaches to researchNORA Emerging Technology Team."April 2006."Also available via the World Wide Web.Includes bibliographical references (29-33)