Source: Martin Braun
April 28, 2025, marked World Day for Safety and Health at Work – a global day of action that reminds millions of people every year of the importance of safe and healthy working conditions. This day was established by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and has become an important platform for awareness-raising, dialogue and political impetus. We at the IT Center would also like to use this day to draw attention to current developments, opportunities and challenges in the field of occupational health and safety – and also to focus on our own health promotion services.
Focus on Digitalisation & AI
This year’s motto is: “Revolutionising health and safety: the role of AI and digitalisation at work”. The message: new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), automation, the Internet of Things (IoT), wearables and augmented reality (AR) have the potential to make our workplaces safer, more efficient and healthier.
A few examples:
- Sensor-based protective clothing can provide timely warnings of hazards such as excessive temperatures or toxic gases.
- AI systems analyse data from machines and work environments in real time to identify risks at an early stage.
- VR training environments enable safe and realistic simulations of dangerous situations – ideal for occupational safety training.
- Automation takes over monotonous or dangerous tasks and thus reduces the risk of accidents at work.
New Technologies = New Challenges
However, technological progress also brings with it new questions. How do we ensure that digitalisation does not lead to more stress, surveillance or psychological strain? What measures are needed to ensure that all employees – regardless of age, qualifications or experience – can work safely with new tools and systems?
A central keyword here is “preventive design”: technologies should be planned and used from the outset in such a way that they serve people, not the other way round. And: safety and health must always be considered holistically; both physically and mentally.
GRC – Anchoring Safety Strategically
An effective way to deal with these challenges is to integrate governance, risk and compliance (GRC) into occupational health and safety management. This strategic approach helps to recognise risks at an early stage, comply with legal requirements and promote a safety culture that is more than just theory.
A good GRC system means
- Clear responsibilities within the company
- Transparent processes for risk assessment
- Early warning systems for new risks
- Promotion of ethical leadership that takes the health of employees seriously
Health Promotion at RWTH Aachen University
Occupational health and safety is also actively practised at the IT Center. In addition to ergonomic workstations, such as height-adjustable desks, there are various programmes to support health in everyday working life.
A central health promotion service at RWTH Aachen University is the University Medical Center, which acts as a company medical contact point for RWTH Aachen University, the University Hospital, Aachen/Jülich University of Applied Sciences and the Aachen Student Union. Its focus is on the interplay between work, occupation and health. The tasks range from recruitment examinations, occupational health screenings and risk assessments to accident prevention and support for reintegration measures. Regular workplace inspections and participation in occupational health and safety committees are also part of their work – this ensures that health risks are identified at an early stage and can be minimised in a targeted manner.
Another important support service is the psychosocial counselling center for employees, a multi-professional team from the fields of counselling, supervision, coaching and organisational development. It is available to all employees in the event of mental and psychological stress – for example in conflict situations at work, personal worries or family challenges. It also offers discreet and individualised help in acute crisis and threatening situations.
The “Bewegte Pause” and the “Pausenexpress” programmes offered by the university sports department provide a low-threshold way of integrating short exercise sessions into the working day – ideal for back, posture and relaxation. These programmes promote physical fitness and also contribute to mental recovery. In addition, all workstations at the IT Centre are currently being successively equipped with height-adjustable desks, which is a further step towards a healthy and ergonomic working environment.
An internal survey was conducted at the IT Center as part of a keynote speech, in which employees were able to name topics that were of particular interest to them in the area of health protection. The result was clear: back health is at the top of the list. Based on this feedback, the IT Center’s in-house spokespeople are currently planning further presentations and support services on this topic together with the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) health insurance company in order to specifically address the needs of employees.
Health Week & Health Day 2025
A special highlight this year was the Health Week from 12 to 16 May, during which a wide range of activities, workshops and lectures on the topic of health were offered throughout RWTH. On 14 May, the central Health Day took place in the SuperC – with an extensive programme on exercise, nutrition, mental health and healthy workplace design.
Our Appeal for World Health Day 2025
Whether you are an employer or employee, in the office, in the lab or on the move – Health Day is an opportunity to pause and ask: What is the state of health and safety in my workplace? Where do I see potential for improvement – including through digital solutions? How can we as a team create a culture in which everyone feels safe and comfortable? Healthy work is not a luxury, but a prerequisite for innovation, satisfaction and sustainable success. And modern technologies can help us achieve this if we use them in a conscious, responsible and people-centred way.
Responsible for the content of this article is Malak Mostafa.
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