ABSTRACT
Automation and robotisation of factories allowed for an unprecedented optimisation of production processes. Owing to the fact that robots and drones do not get tired of performing repetitive, monotonous activities; they are precise and fast, do not receive a salary, do not demand social benefits and can work continuously their work is extremely cheap, and the efficiency is excellent. The next stage in the development of automation was the emergence of IIoT, i.e. tools, devices and industrial machines equipped with an IP address that is able to communicate with other intelligent machines via the Internet. The objective of Industry 4.0 is to bring into existence interconnectivity, smart, self-regulating industrial value creation by means of integration of cyber-physical systems into manufacturing. Industry 4.0 is a new paradigm of production that leads to faster and more precise decision-making, an entirely new approach to production and the work organisation manner of work task performance, which may have a significant influence on the health and safety of workers. The article provides an overview of potential effects (positive and negative) of Industry 4.0 on occupational health and safety and aims at listing some recommendations regarding the integration of OHS in the Industry 4.0 context. The author carried out an insight review of the literature available on this subject and the results clearly indicate that there are many risks as well as opportunities for occupational health and safety that derive from Industry 4.0. The article depicts the integration of OHS into Industry 4.0, discusses the potential effects of Industry 4.0 technologies on OHS and finally lists some recommendations for further research and studies.
