ITM Leads European Dialogue on Workplace Safety in the Digital Age

On Monday 6 October 2025, the Director of the Inspectorate of Labour and Mines reported on its recent transnational conference, which brought together European experts, institutional representatives and industry practitioners to explore how digital technology can enhance workplace prevention and safety.

The conference, titled “Risk Prevention in the Digital Age: Lessons Learned”, took place on Thursday 2 October in Luxembourg-Dommeldange and was organised under the direction of the ITM and included the participation of European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) network representatives from Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg. 

According to the ITM, the event formed part of the European “Healthy Workplaces 2023–2025” campaign led by the EU-OSHA.

The ITM reported that the morning sessions focused on the profound changes brought about by the digital era in the world of work. During these, Charlotte Grevfors Ernoult (European Commission) provided a strategic overview of European occupational health and safety policies, while William Cockburn (EU-OSHA) highlighted key lessons from the European campaign, emphasising the crucial role of national Focal Points in promoting a continent-wide culture of prevention. Representatives from EU-OSHA networks in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg presented an overview of national initiatives, illustrating the diversity of approaches and priorities in addressing digital challenges.

According to the ITM, a central feature of the conference was a roundtable moderated by Marco Boly, ITM Director, which featured contributions from Kris De Meester (FEB) and Caroline Verdoot (FGTB) for Belgium, Khalid Azougagh (FNV) for the Netherlands, Elodie Vivier (ArcelorMittal Luxembourg) and Roberto Mendolia (ALEBA) for Luxembourg. The discussions addressed the practical impact of digitisation on work, the importance of anticipating new risks and the role of active social dialogue in supporting this transformation.

The afternoon sessions highlighted successful initiatives in workplace safety and digital innovation, including:

⁃ AGC (Belgium): Digital technologies reducing workplace risks

⁃ TNO (Netherlands): Digitisation of preventive medical records in construction and initiatives protecting platform delivery couriers

⁃ BAUA (Germany): AI systems detecting hazardous particles and supporting industrial quality control

⁃ ArcelorMittal (Luxembourg): Local innovation and prevention projects

The ITM said: “These examples demonstrate how technology can strengthen safety, improve risk monitoring and foster proactive prevention cultures.”

ITM noted that the conference showcased its commitment to shaping the workplaces of tomorrow, with digital transformation offering opportunities such as automation, real-time monitoring and artificial intelligence, while presenting challenges including information overload, psychosocial risks and data security.

“Digitisation is not simply a technological challenge: it is a cultural transformation. It requires a balanced approach between innovation, safety and employee well-being,” said Marco Boly.

Through this transnational conference, the ITM said it reaffirmed its commitment to safe, healthy and sustainable workplaces, collaborating with European counterparts to actively shape the future of prevention.

“Safe and healthy working conditions throughout a person’s professional life benefit workers, companies and society as a whole,” stated the EU-OSHA.