Safeguarding Workers: The Role of Innovation and Intellectual Property in Occupational Health and Safety
June 25, 2024
Nearly 60% of the world’s population is engaged in some form of work. Workplaces, where we spend much of our time, shape not just individual lives but society as a whole. Despite this, a harsh reality remains: millions suffer due to unsafe working conditions. In 2019 alone, an estimated 2.93 million individuals died due to work-related accidents or diseases, with over 395 million sustaining non-fatal injuries. This burden falls disproportionately on certain segments of the population, such as those in the informal economy, seasonal laborers and Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs). These detrimental effects extend beyond individuals and their families. Although, the true societal and economic burden of work-related injuries and diseases remains unknown, the economic burden is estimated to be nearly 4% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
As global and national efforts persist in addressing enduring safety concerns in traditionally hazardous sectors like construction and mining, workers face new challenges such as climate change. Termed a “cocktail of hazards” by the International Labor Organization (ILO), threats such as extreme heat, UV radiation and air pollution are linked to a spectrum of health conditions, from cancer and cardiovascular diseases to respiratory ailments and mental health disorders.
Additionally, the landscape of work has undergone significant changes with the rise of telework. In 2019, there were about 260 million home-based workers worldwide, a figure that has increased in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, their working environment and equipment often do not meet adequate Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standards, posing significant risks not only for the homeworker but also for other members of the household. Furthermore, mental health risks, such as isolation and blurred boundaries between work and personal time, are quite common. As telework continues to be a prevalent mode of work, addressing these challenges becomes crucial for ensuring the well-being and safety of workers in remote work settings.
The interdependence of health and work cannot be overstated. A safe and healthy work environment is essential for maintaining workers’ well-being, productivity and overall quality of life, while also contributing to economic prosperity. In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, it is imperative that we prioritize OSH initiatives, recognizing them as foundations for individual and societal flourishing, as well as for sustainable economic growth.
Innovation and Intellectual Property at Work in Occupational Health and Safety
Intellectual property (IP) rights are instrumental in advancing innovation in occupational health and safety. They serve as tools to support those who innovate, research, develop and eventually commercialize solutions that enhance workplace safety.
By safeguarding ideas and inventions, IP empowers creators to take risks and push the boundaries of innovation. This creates an environment that encourages experimentation and breakthroughs in workplace safety. Moreover, IP protection provides an avenue to attract investment and facilitate access to the necessary capital for scaling their ventures. Ultimately, this translates into substantial benefits for workers, who gain access to safer and more efficient workplace solutions driven by an innovation ecosystem.
Consider the construction industry – an environment where heavy machinery, unpredictable weather, noise and bustling activity converge, creating constant risks. Traditional safety measures struggle to keep up. Workers relying on manual reporting methods often find themselves in uncertain situations, especially in remote areas of construction sites where assistance is not readily available. In these instances, the inefficiencies of shouting for help or attempting to use personal cell phones highlight the urgent need for innovation in safety protocols.
Triax Technologies, a U.S. based company, is dedicated to tackling the challenges outlined above. Its Spot-r ® system, powered by Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology, can detect falls, swiftly pinpoint worker locations for emergency response and enable direct communication between workers and site personnel. Triax Technologies claims that their IIoT platform reduces evacuation and mustering times by 70%. This is crucial, considering that in 2022, nearly 1 in 5 workplace deaths in the U.S. occurred in the construction industry.
Triax Technologies’ commitment to innovation extends beyond functionality—it's also evident in their investment in IP rights. Through trademarks and patents associated with Spot-r®, Triax Technologies fosters ongoing innovation to develop solutions that have the potential to reduce injuries and save countless lives in one of the most dangerous industries in the world.
Empowering Change: WIPO's Initiative for Safer Workplaces
Established in 2007, the Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) is an intergovernmental body within the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), mandated to develop a work program for implementing 45 Development Agenda recommendations and discuss IP and development related issues.
One of these issues includes the critical role of innovation and IP in advancing occupational safety and health. At its twenty-ninth session, the CDIP approved a project on Reducing Work-related Accidents and Occupational Diseases through Innovation and Intellectual Property. This three-year project, coordinated by the Development Agenda Coordination Division (DACD), aims to reduce work-related accidents and occupational diseases in Cameroon, Tunisia, the Gambia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, through innovation and the use of IP tools. In addition, the project seeks to raise awareness on the dangers and risks involved in using counterfeits.
To achieve these objectives, the project outlines a comprehensive implementation strategy, encompassing activities ranging from scoping studies and patent landscape reports to an educational toolkit and public awareness campaigns. By mapping IP-related technology needs, identifying existing innovative solutions and disseminating educational materials, the project seeks to empower stakeholders with the knowledge and tools necessary to leverage IP to improve workplace safety across diverse industries and regions.
As society confronts various challenges posed by unsafe working conditions, climate change and the evolving landscape of telework, innovative solutions enabled by IP can drive transformative advancements in advancing occupational health and safety. By prioritizing occupational safety and health and fostering a culture of innovation, the reduction of the human and economic toll of work-related accidents and diseases paves the way for a more resilient and prosperous future for all.