OCCUPATIONAL Safety and Health Month slated for April 2025 will be observed under the theme, “Revolutionizing health and safety: the role of AI and digitalization at work.”
Embracing modern technology, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) said the theme for Occupational Safety and Health in 2025 will focus on how emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalisation impact worker safety and health.
Notably, it said: “Artificial Intelligence (AI) is technology that enables computers and machines to simulate human learning, comprehension, problem solving, decision making, creativity and autonomy.”

Additionally, the theme will focus on technology as it specifically examines various new technologies through an occupational safety and health lens, inclusive of advanced robots, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) among others.
It will also shed light on new work practices, such as automation of tasks, big data analysis, smart digital systems and workers’ management through AI.

According to the ILO, it is intended to look at how the digital transformation of work may support safe and healthy working environments and what governments, employers and workers and other stakeholders are already doing to respond to these emerging challenges.
The Ministry of Labour has stated that to mark this observance, its Occupational Safety and Health Department is inviting and encouraging employers’ and workers’ organisations, key stakeholders and employers to develop and implement programmes which are aimed at increasing awareness of occupational safety and health generally and more specifically, promoting safety and health as a right at work.

Further, the ministry underscored that special emphasis should continue to be placed on promoting safety and health in the mining, construction, and agricultural sectors to prevent or minimise workplace accidents and fatalities.
Moreover, Occupational Safety and Health Month will be launched by the Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, on April 1, 2025, and the Annual OSH Walk for Georgetown will be held on April 27.
For additional information, persons can call 225-7008, 225-8801, and 225- 8803 or e-mail the ministry at osh.events@labour.gov.gy