A review of ambient intelligence applications for enhancing workforce health and safety

This literature review examined the role of ambient intelligence (AmI) in occupational safety and health (OSH), focusing on its effectiveness across different workplaces, target groups and OSH hazards. The review aims to: identify occupational domains using AmI; assess the groups benefiting from them; evaluate the hazards addressed; and analyse the perceived benefits and limitations of AmI in OSH. Findings reveal that AmI enhances OSH through real-time monitoring, personalized feedback and proactive hazard prevention, addressing risks such as poor air quality, temperature shifts, noise exposure, toxic gases and stress-related conditions, particularly in high-risk sectors like oil and mining and in office settings. Although AmI improves safety awareness, challenges persist – including wearable discomfort, low tech literacy, privacy concerns and implementation difficulties. The review underscores the need for research to adapt AmI for vulnerable workers, refine user-friendly designs and balance automation with user control to create safer, human-centric workplaces.