LEGAL PROTECTION OF EMPLOYEES’ HEALTH AND SAFETY USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: EUROPEAN PRACTICES
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Published:
Dec 31, 2025
Abstract
This paper examines the legal safeguards for employee health and safety in the context of the increasing integration of AI in European workplaces. Concurrently, it addresses the emergent risks to physical and psychological well-being. These risks encompass potential accidents, elevated stress levels attributable to algorithmic management systems, and discriminatory practices emanating from AI-driven data collection. The present study undertakes a critical analysis of the European Union’s regulatory endeavors, with a particular focus on the proposed Artificial Intelligence Act. This legislative initiative aims to establish ethical guidelines and obligations for the design, development, and utilization of artificial intelligence within the context of the workplace. The analysis focuses on the balance between technological advancement and the fundamental rights of workers, including privacy, fair working conditions, and protection against health risks. The study further delves into the responsibilities of employers and AI providers in ensuring workplace safety, emphasizing the necessity of human oversight and the provision of clear information to users interacting with AI systems. The paper’s conclusion calls for a comprehensive approach, integrating legal regulations with proactive safety measures. This would ensure that the benefits of AI are realized without compromising the health and safety of employees in European workplaces.
How to Cite
LutsenkoО. (2025). LEGAL PROTECTION OF EMPLOYEES’ HEALTH AND SAFETY USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: EUROPEAN PRACTICES. Academia Polonica, 72(5), 158-167. https://doi.org/10.23856/7218
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Keywords
scope of labor law, expansion of labor law, digitalization, globalization, labor relations, occupational safety, employee health
References
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21. Liu K. (2017). Protection of health and safety at the workplace. A comparative legal study of the European Union and China. Springer Nature. URL: https://research-portal.uu.nl/en/publications/protection-of-health-and-safety-at-workplace-a-comparative-legal-
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23. Parent-Rocheleau X., Parker K.S. (2021). 3 ways ‘algorithmic management’ makes work more stressful and less satisfying URL: https://theconversation.com/3-ways-algorithmic-management-makes-work-more-stressful-and-less-satisfying-166030
24. Parliament, (2020) ‘Report on artificial intelligence: questions of interpretation and application of international law in so far as the EU is affected in the areas of civil and military uses and of state authority outside the scope of criminal justice’ 2020/2013 (INI). URL: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2021-0001_EN.html
25. Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of Regions on the practical implementation of the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Directives 89/391 (Framework), 89/654 (Workplaces), 89/655 (Work Equipment), 89/656 (Personal Protective Equipment), 90/269 (Manual Handling of Loads) and 90/270 (Display Screen Equipment)’ (COM (2004) 62 final) URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52004DC0062
26. Quinlan M. (2007). Organisational restructuring/downsizing, OHS regulation and worker health and wellbeing. Int J Law Psychiatry. Jul-Oct; 30 (4–5). P. 385-399. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlp.2007.06.010 .
27. Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence and amending Regulations (EC) No 300/2008, (EU) No 167/2013, (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1139 and (EU) 2019/2144 and Directives 2014/90/EU, (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Artificial Intelligence Act). URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/eng
28. Sawicki, G.S., Beck, O.N., Kang, I. et al. (2020). The exoskeleton expansion: improving walking and running economy. Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation. № 17. Р. 25. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-020-00663-9
29. Slovenian Presidency of the EU, (2008) ‘European pact for mental health and well-being’ https://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_determinants/life_style/mental/docs/pact_en.pdf
30. Wigert B., Agrawal S. (2018). Employee Burnout, Part 1: The 5 main causes. URL: https://www.gallup.com/workplace/237059/employee-burnout-part-main-causes.aspx
2. Bernstein, Gaia (2006). The Paradoxes of Technological Diffusion: Genetic Discrimination and Internet Privacy. Connecticut Law Review. Vol. 39. URL: https://ssrn.com/abstract=897523
3. Bluff E, Gunningham N. (2003). Principle, process, performance or what? New approaches to OHS standards setting. National Research Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Regulation & National Occupational Health and Safety Commission. URL: https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/server/api/core/bitstreams/146b8ff8-7308-4958-ab06-8a0bd344771f/content
4. Cefaliello, A., & Kullmann, M. (2022). Offering false security: How the draft artificial intelligence act undermines fundamental workers rights. European Labour Law Journal. Vol. 13. P. 542–562. https://doi.org/10.1177/20319525221114474
5. Cerka P, Grigiene J, Sirbikyte G. (2017). Is it possible to grant legal personality to artificial intelligence software systems? Computer Law & Security Review. № 33(5). Р. 685–699. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clsr.2017.03.022
6. Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union [2012]OJ C 326/391. URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:C2012/326/02
7. Colosio C, Mandic-Rajcevic S, Godderis L, Laan G, Hulshof C, Dijk F. (2017). Workers’ health surveillance: implementation of the Directive 89/391/EEC in Europe. Occup Med. № 67(7). Р. 4–9. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqx113
8. Commission, ‘Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, The Council, The European Economic and Social Committee and The Committee of the Regions, ‘Communication from the commission to the European parliament, the council, the European economic and social committee and the committee of the regions EU strategic framework on health and safety at work 2021–2027 Occupational safety and health in a changing world of work’ COM (2021b) 323 final. URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52021DC0323
9. Commission, ‘Proposal for a regulation of the European parliament and of the council laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (artificial intelligence act) and amending certain union legislative acts’ COM (2021c) 206 final.URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52021PC0206
10. Commission. Annexes to the proposal for a regulation of the european parliament and of the council laying down harmonized rules on artificial intelligence (artificial intelligence act) and amending certain union legislative acts. (COM 2021a 206 final). URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/eng
11. Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work. OJ L 183, 29.6.1989, pp. 1–8. URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/1989/391/oj/eng
12. Draper E. A. (1996). Social issues of genome innovation and intellectual property. Risk: Health, Safety Environ. № 7(3). Р. 201–230. URL: https://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1283&context=risk
13. Field, Robert, (1983). Biological Monitoring and Genetic Screening in the Industrial Workplace: A Synopsis and Analysis. L. Med. & Health Care. Vol. 125. URL: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3693977
14. Flaherty J. E. (2009). Toxicogenomics and workers’ compensation: a reworking of the bargain. J Health Care Law Pol. № 12(2): 274. URL: https://digitalcommons.law.umaryland.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1227&context=jhclp
15. Gaskins R. (2004). New dynamics of risk and responsibility: expanding the vision for accident compensation. Victoria University of Wellington Law Review. № 35. Р. 957–962. URL: https://www.nzlii.org/nz/journals/VUWLawRw/2004/44.html
16. Gordon D. (2016). Discrimination can be harmful to your mental health. URL: https://newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/discrimination-can-be-harmful-to-your-mental-health 17. ILO. (2019). Work for a Brighter Future: Report of the Global Commission on the Future of Work. URL: https://webapps.ilo.org/digitalguides/en-gb/story/global-commission#intro
18. Jarota M. (2021). Artificial intelligence and robotisation in the EU – should we change OHS law? Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology. № 16. Р. 3–7. URL: https://occup-med.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12995-021-00301-7 .
19. Lambert Thomas A. (2004). Avoiding Regulatory Mismatch in the Workplace: An Informational Approach to Workplace Safety Regulation, 82 Neb. L. Rev. 1006. URL: https://scholarship.law.missouri.edu/facpubs/248
20. Leka S, Adita J, Iavicoli S, Di Tecco C. (2015). An evaluation of the policy context on psychosocial risks and mental health in the workplace in the European Union: achievements, challenges, and the future. BioMed Res Int. № 2. URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2015/213089 https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/213089
21. Liu K. (2017). Protection of health and safety at the workplace. A comparative legal study of the European Union and China. Springer Nature. URL: https://research-portal.uu.nl/en/publications/protection-of-health-and-safety-at-workplace-a-comparative-legal-
22. Nowik P. (2021). Electronic personhood for artificial intelligence in the workplace. Computer Law & Security Review. № 42 (4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clsr.2021.105584
23. Parent-Rocheleau X., Parker K.S. (2021). 3 ways ‘algorithmic management’ makes work more stressful and less satisfying URL: https://theconversation.com/3-ways-algorithmic-management-makes-work-more-stressful-and-less-satisfying-166030
24. Parliament, (2020) ‘Report on artificial intelligence: questions of interpretation and application of international law in so far as the EU is affected in the areas of civil and military uses and of state authority outside the scope of criminal justice’ 2020/2013 (INI). URL: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2021-0001_EN.html
25. Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of Regions on the practical implementation of the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Directives 89/391 (Framework), 89/654 (Workplaces), 89/655 (Work Equipment), 89/656 (Personal Protective Equipment), 90/269 (Manual Handling of Loads) and 90/270 (Display Screen Equipment)’ (COM (2004) 62 final) URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52004DC0062
26. Quinlan M. (2007). Organisational restructuring/downsizing, OHS regulation and worker health and wellbeing. Int J Law Psychiatry. Jul-Oct; 30 (4–5). P. 385-399. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlp.2007.06.010 .
27. Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence and amending Regulations (EC) No 300/2008, (EU) No 167/2013, (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1139 and (EU) 2019/2144 and Directives 2014/90/EU, (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Artificial Intelligence Act). URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/eng
28. Sawicki, G.S., Beck, O.N., Kang, I. et al. (2020). The exoskeleton expansion: improving walking and running economy. Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation. № 17. Р. 25. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-020-00663-9
29. Slovenian Presidency of the EU, (2008) ‘European pact for mental health and well-being’ https://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_determinants/life_style/mental/docs/pact_en.pdf
30. Wigert B., Agrawal S. (2018). Employee Burnout, Part 1: The 5 main causes. URL: https://www.gallup.com/workplace/237059/employee-burnout-part-main-causes.aspx
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