Sustainable workplace safety: evidence-informed priorities for urgent cross-sector action

Abstract

Background

Workplace safety faces mounting strain from intersecting pressures, while serious harm persists in high-risk sectors. These shifts can weaken accountability and amplify new risk pathways, creating an urgent need for cross-sector, prevention-focused actions that are equitable and robust amid uncertainty.

Objective

This review aimed to identify and prioritise urgent, cross-sector actions to strengthen sustainable workplace safety amid climate change, psychosocial harm, technological transformation, and fragmented or non-standard employment.

Methods

An evidence-informed scoping review synthesised peer-reviewed and grey literature and incorporated stakeholder input. Transparent inclusion criteria and pragmatic evidence weighting were used to distinguish empirical evidence from standards and guidance. Priorities were set using explicit criteria, including harm severity, exposure prevalence, urgency, feasibility, time-to-impact, equity impacts, stakeholder consensus, and robustness under uncertainty.

Results

Evidence indicated persistent serious harm in high-risk sectors, growing psychosocial injury burdens, intensifying climate-related exposures, and emerging risks linked to digitalisation, human–robot interaction, and non-standard work (including gig/platform labour), where incentive structures can amplify unsafe behaviour, particularly under extreme heat. Ten priorities were identified: embed Occupational Health and Safety in governance and incentives; strengthen worker voice, equity and inclusion; design out hazards; prevent psychosocial harm aligned with International standard organization 45003; build data, learning and a just culture; improve climate- and environment-ready safety; ensure ethical digitalisation/automation with privacy and bias safeguards; protect Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and supply chains (including “International standard organization 45001-lite” pathways); strengthen competency and lifelong learning; and improve management of transitions and fatigue.

Conclusion

Sustainable safety requires a shift from lagging-indicator management to governance- and design-led prevention, climate adaptation, psychosocial risk control, ethical technology governance, and equity-centred collaboration to reduce serious harm.