Exploring occupational safety and health in future workscapes

Aims: The aim of this manuscript is to address the evolving dynamics of work, which are placing increasing demands on current occupational safety and health (OSH) protocols. It emphasizes the need for a more adaptable approach to ensure safe and efficient work environments. The primary objective is to introduce new frameworks capable of handling the uncertainties of the future in OSH. Methods: To tackle the challenges posed by the changing landscape of work, the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has adopted a strategic foresight approach. This approach is rooted in future studies and strategic planning, allowing NIOSH to anticipate future challenges in OSH. It involves creating well-structured and informed scenarios of potential futures, enabling organizations to prepare effectively for upcoming challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities. Results: This manuscript represents NIOSH's inaugural foray into strategic foresight. The results showcase the integration of strategic foresight methods to enhance institutional readiness in the realm of OSH. The study delves deep into the anticipated trajectories of OSH research and protocols, offering valuable insights into the future of OSH. Conclusion: In conclusion, the evolving nature of work necessitates a more adaptable approach to occupational safety and health. NIOSH's strategic foresight venture marks a significant step towards achieving this goal. By proactively preparing for future challenges and opportunities, organizations can ensure safer and more efficient work environments. This manuscript provides a foundation for enhancing institutional readiness and navigating the evolving landscape of OSH research and protocols.

Keywords:

Future of work, strategic foresight, occupational safety and health, envisioned futures, changing dynamics, data protection, mental wellness, collaboration remote work,

PDF

___

Daheim C, Winterman O. 2050: The future of work. findings of an ınternational study of the millennium project; Bertelmann Stiffung: Gutersloh, Germany, 2016.
Howard J. Nonstandard work arrangements and worker health and safety. Am J Ind Med. 2017;60(1):1-10.
The World Bank. The World Development Report (WDR) 2019: The Changing Nature of Work. Accessed July 23. https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/wdr2019
Arntz M, Gregory T, Zierahn U. The Risk of Automation for Jobs in OECD Countries: A Comparative Analysis. OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers No. 189; OECD Publishing: Paris, France, 2016.
Toosi M. Projections of the Labor Force to 2050: A Visual Essay. Accessed July 23, https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2012/10/art1full.pdf
Peckham TK, Baker MG, Camp JE, Kaufman JD, Seixas NS. Creating a future for occupational health. Ann Work Expo Health. 2017;61(1):3-15.
Chia G, Lim SM, Sng GKJ, Hwang Y-FJ, Chia KS. Need for a New Workplaces Safety and Health (WSH) strategy for the fourth industrial revolution. Am J Ind Med. 2019;62(1):275-281.
Tamers SL, Streit JMK, Pana-Cryan R, Ray T, Syron L et al. Envisioning the future of work to safeguard the safety, health, and well-being of the workforce: a perspective from the cdc’s national ınstitute for occupational safety and health. Am J Ind Med. 2020;63(1):1065-1084.
Schulte PA, Delclos GL, Felknor SA, Streit JMK et al. Expanding the focus of occupational safety and health: Lessons from a series of linked scientific meetings. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(1):15381.
Schulte, P.A, Delclos, G, Felknor, S, Chosewood, L.C. Toward an expanded focus for occupational safety and health: A commentary. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(1):4946.
Avila-Gutierrez MJ, de Miranda SSF, Aguayo-Gonzalez F. Occupational safety and health 5.0—a model for multilevel strategic deployment aligned with the sustainable development goals of agenda 2030. Sustainability. 2022, 14.
Schulte PA, Streit J.M.K, Sheriff F. et al. Potential scenarios and hazards in the work of the future: a systematic review of the peer-reviewed and gray literatures. Ann Work Exp Health. 2020, 64.
Streit JMK, Felknor SA, Edwards NT et al. Leveraging strategic foresight to advance worker safety, health, and well-being. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021, 18.
Loveridge D. Foresight: The art and science of anticipating the future. Routledge: New York, NY, USA, 2009.
Mietzner D, Reger G. Advantages and disadvantages of scenario approaches for strategic foresight. Int J Technol Intell Plan. 2005;1.
Popper, R. Mapping foresight: Revealing how Europe and Other world regions navigate into the future. European Foresight Monitoring Network Report Eur 24041 En. Accessed July 23. https://rafaelpopper.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/efmn-mapping-foresight_en.pdf
Khong C. Relevance, practice and ınsights from applying scenarios. Accessed July 23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR3oCH8poXQ
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Strategic Foresight. Accessed July 23. https://www.oecd.org/strategic-foresight/whatisforesight/#
Institute for the Future IFTF. IFTF Foresight Essentials. Accessed July 23. https://www.iftf.org/foresightessentials/
Bishop PC, Hines A. Teaching About the Future. New York, NY, USA: Palgrave Macmillan; 2012.
The Futures School. Defining Strategic Foresight. Available from: https://thefuturesschool.com/2019/11/defining-strategic-foresight/. Accessed July 23.
Wack P. Scenarios: Unchartered Waters Ahead. Harv Bus Rev. 1985;63:72-89.
Rohrbeck R, Battistella C, Huizingh E. Corporate Foresight: An Emerging Field with a Rich Tradition. Technol Soc Change. 2015;101:1-9.
Scoblic JP. Strategic Foresight in U.S. Agencies. Accessed July 23. https://www.newamerica.org/international-security/reports/strategic-foresight-in-us-agencies/
Federal Foresight Community of Interest. Federal Foresight Community of Interest. Accessed July 23. www.ffcoi.org/.
Hines A, Bishop P. Thinking about the Future: Guidelines for Strategic Foresight, 2nd ed. Houston, TX, USA: Hinesight; 2015.
Sharpe B, Hodgson A. Intelligent Infrastructure Futures: Technology Forward Look. London, UK: Foresight Directorate, UK Dept of Trade & Industry; 2006.
Curry A, Hodgson A. seeing in multiple horizons: Connecting futures to strategy. J Futur Stud. 2008;13:1-20.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health NIOSH. NIOSH Strategic Plan: Fys 2019-2026. Accessed July 23. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/about/strategicplan/default.html
Felknor SA, Schulte PA, Schnorr TM, Pana-Cryan R, Howard JB. Need and impact: An evidence-based method to ıdentify worker safety and health research priorities. Ann Work Exp Health. 2019, 63, 375-385.
Costello B. City finalizes property sale to CDC for new niosh facility in avondale. Accessed July 23. https://www.wvxu.org/local-news/2022-09-29/cincinnati-property-sale-cdc-niosh-facility-avondale
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC. Guidance for COVID-19. Accessed July 23. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/guidance.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC. Engaging remote employees in their health and workplace wellness programs. Accessed July 23. https://www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/initiatives/resource-center/case-studies/engaging-remote-employees.html
New Gen Apps. The 5 benefits and role of cloud computing in digital transformation. Accessed July 23. https://www.newgenapps.com/en/blogs/benefits-role-of-cloud-computing-in-digital-transformation
French, R. Attended automation can make remote workers even more productive. Accessed July 23. https://www.tlnt.com/attended-automation-can-make-remote-workers-even-more-productive/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC. About CDC Information Resource (IR) governance. Accessed July 23. https://www2.cdc.gov/cdcup/governance/default.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC. Additional requirement—25: data management and access. Accessed July 23. https://www.cdc.gov/grants/additional-requirements/ar-25.html
Wood RW. Uber & lyft ordered to treat drivers as employees, are any contractors ındependent now? Accessed July 23. https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwood/2020/08/11/uber--lyft-ordered-to-treat-drivers-as-employees-are-any-contractors-independent-now/?sh=225731365516
U.S. joint committee on taxation. present law and background relating to worker classification for federal tax purposes. Accessed July 23. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/x-26-07.pdf
Lewis N. HR managers rethink their role during the coronavirus pandemic. Accessed July 23. https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-news/pages/hr-managers-rethink-their-work-coronavirus-pandemic.aspx
U.S. Office for human research protections. regulations, policy & guidance. Accessed July 23. https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/index.html
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health NIOSH. Productive aging and work: a supportive work culture for multi-generational issues. Accessed July 23. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/productiveaging/supportiveculture.html
U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA. OSH Act of 1970. Accessed July 23. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/oshact/toc
U.S. Office of Personnel Management OPM. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) Guide, Version 2.0. Accessed July 23. https://www.opm.gov/about-us/open-government/digital-government-strategy/fitara/paperwork-reduction-act-guide.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC. National occupational research agenda. Accessed July 23. https://www.cdc.gov/nora/default.html
U.S. Department of Homeland Security DHS. Implementing 9/11 Commission Recommendations. Accessed July 23. https://www.dhs.gov/implementing-911-commission-recommendations
SAS, I. Big Data: What It Is and Why It Matters. Available online: Accessed July 23. https://www.sas.com/en_us/insights/big-data/what-is-big-data.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC. World Trade Center Health Program. Accessed July 23. https://www.cdc.gov/wtc/
Longley R. Gig Economy: Definition and Pros and Cons. Accessed July 23. https://www.thoughtco.com/gig-economy-4588490
U.S. Office for human research protections. revised common rule. Accessed July 23. https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/regulations/finalized-revisions-common-rule/index.html
McGee MK. Hackers pose increasing risk to medical research data. Accessed July 23. https://www.databreachtoday.com/hackers-pose-increasing-risk-to-medical-research-data-a-13686
Hines A. Where can we find the fringe? scanning the fringe part 2. Accessed July 23. https://www.andyhinesight.com/where-can-we-find-the-fringe-scanning-the-fringe-part-2/
Voros JA generic foresight process framework. Foresight 2003;5:10-21.
Wygant AC, Markley OW. Information and the future: A handbook of sources and strategies; greenwood pub group: Westport, CT, USA, 1988.
Hines A, Bengston DN, Dockry MJ, Cowart A. Setting up the Forest Futures Horizon Scanning System. The Forest Futures Horizon Scanning Project. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-187. Accessed July 23. https://www.fs.usda.gov/nrs/pubs/gtr/gtr-nrs-p-187papers/02-hines_gtr-p-187.pdf
International Labour Organization ILO. Safety and health at the heart of the future of work: building on 100 years of experience. Accessed July 23. https://www.ilo.org/safework/events/safeday/WCMS_686645/lang--en/index.htm
Agovino T. What will the workplace look like in 2025? Accessed July 23. https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/all-things-work/pages/the-workplace-in-2025.aspx