Occupational Risk Prevention in People with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review of the State of the Art

Abstract

People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) face significant barriers to accessing and maintaining employment, many of which stem from work environments that fail to accommodate their neurological diversity. This article aims to analyze the occupational risks faced by autistic individuals in the workplace. A total of 39 scientific studies were reviewed, and the results identified nine predominant thematic categories of occupational risks. Particularly prominent were deficient communication, lack of structured support, cognitive overload, and difficulties coping with change. The reported situations were examined in detail, with attention paid to their specific contexts. A clear predominance of psychosocial risks over ergonomic ones was observed. The review also highlights several underexplored yet equally relevant risk factors, such as discontinuity in supported employment programs, difficulties in requesting reasonable accommodations, discrimination, a lack of professional recognition, and the negative effects of digital or remote environments, such as isolation. This study underscores the importance of recognizing unsafe conditions arising from the lack of neurodiversity-informed adjustments as a necessary step toward implementing organizational and social adaptations in the workplace.