2025 World Day for Safety and Health at Work

April 24, 2025

Each year on 28 April, workplaces around the world observe the World Day for Safety and Health at Work.

This global initiative has been led by the International Labour Organization (ILO) since 2003. It aims to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases while honouring those impacted by work-related incidents.

In Australia, the day aligns with Workers’ Memorial Day, commemorating those lost to workplace accidents and illnesses.

2025 World Day for Safety and Health at Work serves as an important reminder for employers, workers, and safety professionals to reflect on how work health and safety (WHS) practices can evolve in an increasingly complex work environment.

Each World Day for Safety and Health at Work adopts a specific theme to address emerging safety challenges. In 2025, the focus couldn’t be more timely: “Exploring the impacts of digitalisation and artificial intelligence on workers’ health and safety.”

Why AI and digitalisation matter for Australian workplaces

As technology reshapes how we work, it’s also transforming how we manage workplace health and safety.

2025 World Day for Safety and Health at Work shines a spotlight on the opportunities and risks presented by artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, digital platforms, and connected devices.

For Australian businesses, embracing these technologies isn’t just about staying current - it’s about improving risk management, reducing workplace injuries, and protecting worker wellbeing in new, smarter ways.

From predictive analytics and wearable safety devices to AI-powered incident reporting, digital tools are revolutionising the way WHS risks are identified, assessed, and controlled.

How AI and digital tools are already transforming Australian workplace safety

While AI in health and safety may sound futuristic, many Australian organisations are already using these technologies to prevent injuries and create safer working environments.

Some practical examples include:

Wearable safety tech - Devices that monitor heart rate, fatigue, exposure to noise or toxic substances, and worker location in hazardous environments
AI-powered hazard identification - Computer vision tools that detect safety breaches (like missing PPE or unauthorised access) in real-time via workplace cameras
Predictive analytics - AI systems analysing safety data to forecast where and when incidents are likely to occur, enabling pre-emptive risk controls
Digital lone worker systems - Apps and devices for real-time check-ins and emergency alerts, improving safety for isolated or remote employees
Virtual and augmented reality training - Immersive simulations helping workers safely practice high-risk tasks or emergency procedures

These innovations can dramatically improve safety outcomes, particularly in industries like construction, mining, transport and manufacturing where hazards are high and fast decision-making is critical.

Benefits of AI and digitalisation for Australian businesses

Investing in AI and digital safety solutions isn’t just about compliance - it offers tangible benefits for Australian organisations, including:

Faster incident reporting and response times
Better data for informed, evidence-based decision making
Improved risk identification and trend analysis
Reduced workplace injuries and illnesses
Enhanced worker engagement and safety culture

Safe Work Australia highlights that adopting new digital tools can also help address ongoing challenges like workforce shortages, remote operations, and increasingly complex WHS legislation.

New safety risks emerging from digitalisation

While technology brings clear benefits, it also introduces new risks that Australian employers must proactively manage. These include:

Psychosocial hazards - Increased surveillance, digital monitoring, and always-on expectations can contribute to work-related stress, fatigue, and privacy concerns
Technology reliability - Dependence on AI and digital systems requires robust contingency planning for system failures or cyberattacks
Digital divide risks - Unequal access to technology or digital literacy gaps can create disparities in safety outcomes, particularly in regional and remote communities

2025 World Day for Safety and Health at Work encourages businesses to strike a balance between innovation and worker wellbeing, ensuring new technologies enhance, rather than undermine, workplace safety.

Key legislative and regulatory updates

Australian WHS laws already require businesses to manage all reasonably foreseeable risks to health and safety — including those created by new technologies.

In 2025, regulators are placing greater emphasis on the safe implementation of AI and digital tools in the workplace. Safe Work Australia’s guidance materials now include advice on:

Assessing new technological risks as part of regular WHS risk management processes
Protecting worker privacy and ensuring ethical use of AI systems
Consulting workers about new digital tools that may affect their health and safety
Ensuring digital platforms and devices meet Australian WHS standards

It’s vital for employers to remain across these updates, particularly in industries rapidly adopting automation, robotics, and connected technologies.

How Australian workplaces can mark 2025 World Day for Safety and Health at Work

Whether your organisation is already using AI tools or just starting to explore digital safety options, there are plenty of ways to engage with the 2025 World Day for Safety and Health at Work:

Run a workplace technology safety audit to identify current and emerging risks associated with digital tools and platforms
Host a webinar or toolbox talk on AI and workplace safety, using case studies relevant to your industry
Trial a digital safety solution such as a fatigue monitoring device, AI-powered reporting tool, or virtual safety training module
Review your incident reporting systems and explore opportunities for digitalisation or data-driven improvement
Consult with your workers on how AI and digital tools are affecting their experience of safety at work

Safe Work Australia offers free campaign resources to help Australian businesses promote and participate in the 2025 World Day.

Leadership’s role in responsible digital safety adoption

The safe and effective use of AI and digitalisation in WHS depends on strong, ethical leadership. Australian safety leaders must:

Prioritise both physical and psychosocial safety risks created by digitalisation
Maintain transparency about how data is collected, used, and stored
Regularly consult workers and health and safety representatives on new technology implementations
Provide adequate training to ensure all workers, regardless of digital literacy, can safely engage with new tools
Use AI and data analytics ethically and in ways that enhance, rather than erode, trust and safety culture

2025 World Day for Safety and Health at Work is a valuable opportunity for leaders to reflect on their digital safety strategies and foster a proactive, worker-centred approach to technological change.

Conclusion

2025 World Day for Safety and Health at Work highlights a pivotal moment for Australian workplaces.

As AI and digitalisation reshape industries, they also offer powerful new tools to improve safety and wellbeing at work.

By embracing these innovations responsibly — and managing their associated risks — Australian businesses can create smarter, safer, and more inclusive workplaces.

2025 World Day isn’t just about adopting new technology — it’s about leading with care, ethics, and a genuine commitment to the safety of every worker in every workplace.