Shaping Future Work Systems by OSH Risk Assessments Early On

Abstract

With future work systems becoming more interactive, dynamic, and flexible, occupational safety and health (OSH) calls for prospective assessments of hazards and risks to facilitate prevention through design. German river locks for inland waterways will be composed of standardised objects representing a high level of OSH. A research project aimed at conducting risk assessments of river locks of the future; early in their planning stage, with standardised objects and referring to different EU Directives addressing safety and health at work. About 150 work scenarios across operational states and variations in river lock standardisation have been compiled and supplemented for instructing risk assessments. They also conveyed design requirements for setting up dynamic virtual reality (VR) planning models in future contexts of use. Initial feedback about VR simulation use for scenario-based risk assessments is positive and a design review suggested minor adjustments before risk assessments can be conducted that should facilitate OSH improvements and templates for future assessments. The project motivates applications in similar contexts.