By Isaac Arkoh
Cape Coast, April 30, GNA – As the world observes the 2025 World Day for Safety and Health at Work, Health and Safety Group Africa (HESAG Africa) has called on Ghanaians to boldly adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital technologies to transform occupational safety standards.
Dr Selase Darkey, the Director of Occupational Safety and Health at HESAG Africa, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said AI and digitalization were crucial to revolutionise workplace safety, enable proactive risk management and reduce injuries and accidents at workplaces.
AI technologies, according to him, would provide real-time monitoring of risks, unsafe worker behaviour allowing safety managers to detect hazards.
Dr Darkey said: “AI’s potential to predict hazards before they occur by analysing real-time data from sensors and monitoring systems is lifesaving.
“This capability enables immediate intervention to identify risks, detect equipment failures, like gas leaks and unsafe behaviours that could lead to accidents and injuries.”
The day, celebrated on April 28 annually by the International Labour Organization (ILO) seeks to promote safe and healthy work environments globally.
It also underscores the critical role of emerging technologies in preventing workplace accidents and enhancing worker well-being.
This year’s celebration was on the theme, “Revolutionizing Health and Safety: The Role of AI and Digitalization at Work.”
Corroborating the call, Mr Dzifa Ahadzi, Founding President of HESAG Africa, noted that digitalisation extended beyond monitoring to include robotics and automation for handling dangerous tasks, particularly in Ghana’s mining and construction sectors.
He said deploying robots to inspect unstable structures or manage toxic substances, would not only safeguard human lives but also boost efficiency and compliance with safety regulations.
Mr Ahadzi called for strategic investments in digital infrastructure, workforce training and public-private partnerships to ensure Ghana’s labour force benefited from these innovations.
He stressed that ethical standards and regulations to protect workers’ rights and promote inclusive technological growth were very necessary.
GNA
AT/BM