The future of occupational health is undergoing unprecedented transformation driven by five global macrotrends reshaping the landscape of work: technological acceleration, economic uncertainty leading to cost pressures, climate change, demographic shifts in the workforce and geopolitical and geoeconomic fragmentation.Emerging occupational safety and health areas of concern include managing issues relating to the aging workforces, psychosocial risks and mental health, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, comprehensive workplace wellbeing programmes, climate-related heat stress, pandemic preparedness, novel occupational diseases, and gig economy workers.The integration of occupational health into Environmental, Social, and Governance frameworks elevates occupational health from a compliance function to a strategic organisational priority, as occupational health professionals take on the responsibilities to become data stewards and strategic advisors for the organization.Technological convergence across artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and sustainability domains heralds Industry 5.0, fundamentally reshaping work and introducing novel hazards alongside unprecedented opportunities.Occupational health professionals must proactively embrace change and advocate for regulatory frameworks that protect worker health while enabling innovation.This transformation in the future of occupational health demands a strategic, forward-looking approach to ensure sustainable, healthy, and equitable workplaces.
Koh et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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