We are faced with the emergence of emerging risks, new pathologies and work injuries, a legislation on OSH in countries poorly aligned with changes, low managerial skills and competencies, etc.

To comply with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals By 2030, efforts must be combined to achieve a prosperous future in occupational risk prevention. To this end, among the challenges of prevention It will be important to improve the reliability of information, to formulate policies, systems, programmes and preventive measures that respond to the needs of countries. But at the same time, preventive strategies and models adapted to changes in the world of work are essential.

Colombia The initiative is taking steps with the creation of public policies on the matter and with the increase in investment in digital transformation and incentives for science, technology and innovation. The creation of a “Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution” in Medellín seeks cooperation for the development of principles and policies that accelerate the application of science and technology in the global sphere. It is about having scenarios that generate discussion around ethical issues, values and the regulation of technologies, involving interested parties and including regulatory bodies to develop regulatory frameworks that can be applied to industries.

A changing world of work

Globalization has brought with it production models characterized by the diversification of contract types and fragmented supply chains, which, in parallel with advances in communications, innovation, the shift to the digital and collaborative or platform economy and automation, demand flexibility and new forms of work organization, versatile and adapted occupations.

The current wave of technological change known as the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” builds on the achievements of previous waves of technological change to produce unprecedented exponential growth in productivity. Automation coexists with the tensions generated by competitiveness in the context of globalization, where companies are pressured to increase productivity and reduce costs. Thus, competitiveness drives automation and the fragmentation of production systems with the consequent savings in labor and elimination of jobs.

There is talk of a digital revolution that will create physical and cognitive competition with humans, where the jobs that are most difficult to automate will persist, such as those that depend on high cognitive and interpersonal skills and creativity.

All of the above has generated prospects for economic development, prosperity and social progress, but has also brought with it consequences such as unemployment and underemployment, with an emphasis on the young population, women and the migrant population. It has also led to exclusion, atypical forms of employment, a decrease in the quality of employment and situations in which the fundamental rights of the workforce are not respected.

On the other hand, with the transformations come new risks that, added to the demographic changes in the workforce - such as aging - affect the health and well-being of the working population.

But there are also concerns related to climate change and the access of the world's population to adequate social protection, since it is estimated that only 271% of the world's population has it; in addition, there are no lesser concerns linked to its sustainability and adaptation, even in the most developed countries.

Prevention perspectives for new scenarios

Without a doubt, among the new ones challenges of prevention New proactive and preventive strategies and approaches are essential in Safety and health to address the changes in the world of work, linked to new types of employment relationships, flexible, informal and atypical contexts, population ageing, the interaction of human beings with robots and artificial intelligence, among others.

International experts conclude that the prevention The challenge is great, so we invite you to consider a unified vision with the mobilization of various social actors, based on holistic comprehensive models characterized by placing people at the center, which consider the factors that threaten their well-being. It is essential that organizations incorporate safety and health into their business plan, based on the premise that the production of goods and services depends on the health and well-being of the working population.

In this regard, the International Social Security Association ISSA believes that such an approach should focus on three elements:

Technical risk management that reduces the incidence of occupational accidents and illnesses.

Health promotion aimed at reducing risks related to non-communicable diseases through health monitoring, early diagnosis and intervention.

Measures to facilitate return to work, such as early rehabilitation to prevent exclusion.

For the ISSA, occupational accidents and illnesses are preventable if the seven golden rules of the 2017 “Vision Zero” Campaign are considered:

1) Take the lead – demonstrate commitment.

2) Identify hazards - assess risks.

3) Define goals-develop programs.

4) Ensure a safe and healthy system - be well organized.

5) Ensure safety and health in machinery, equipment and workplaces.

6) Improve qualifications-develop skills.

7) Invest in people, motivate through participation.

With demographic changes and the extension of the retirement age, it is necessary to estimate training and capacity building strategies adapted to acquire and transfer skills and knowledge, in order to guarantee a culture of prevention sustained throughout working life, which represents another of the challenges of prevention.

On the other hand, the great potential of research to generate knowledge and validate it is recognized and, in this case, it could support the development of management models adapted to new scenarios, reliable tools for risk assessment and characterization, to measure the benefits of implemented preventive management that promotes the sustainable prevention of accidents and occupational diseases, etc. In a context of technological evolution, it is not surprising to think that technological solutions are planned to provide greater prevention.

Conclusions

Technological evolution and innovation require economic and social adjustments, adaptation processes regarding profiles, tasks, positions, new occupations, so that an educational system is required that integrates OSH in a transversal manner and provides the skills required for the future; experts speak of improving the flexibility of workers and the transferability of their qualifications. Cross-cutting national policies for productive transformation are essential to promote the diversification of companies, to guarantee the creation of good jobs.

Policies that promote greater social cohesion in terms of coverage, higher quality and quantity of jobs in line with the demographic needs of the future population, that strengthen the working conditions of atypical jobs and fill the existing regulatory gaps in the face of new changes must coexist.

The new scenarios of the world of work require preventive management that is adjusted and adapted to the transformations that are taking place, which is why it will be essential to mobilize and be prepared. There are sufficient arguments that demonstrate that good practices in health and safety help companies to be more productive, competitive, sustainable, and help countries to guarantee the sustainability of the 'Social Security System' and its consequent social and economic impact.

All these points pose new challenges for prevention.

https://www.seguridad-laboral.es/sl-latam/desafios-de-la-prevencion-en-el-mundo-del-trabajo_20201109.html