Technology as an ally for workplace safety

Occupational risk prevention, workplace safety, and occupational health have become essential pillars for the sustainability of companies and the well-being of workers. Anticipating risks and problems is not an option, but a strategic necessity to guarantee safe, healthy, and resilient work environments.

In this area, multiple initiatives from companies and institutions such as the Generalitat are moving in the direction of maximizing occupational safety and risk prevention. From a transversal perspective, the technological center Eurecat also does so, developing numerous projects oriented to this field, addressing them from a multidisciplinary perspective. As Felip Miralles, director of Health Technologies at Eurecat, explains, research and innovation allow action on multiple factors that affect workers' health, from physical to psychosocial, with increasingly personalized and data-driven solutions.

In this framework, digital technologies become key allies in promoting healthy habits and prevention. Eurecat has developed platforms that collect user data —through questionnaires, activity bracelets, or specific wearables— to analyze behaviors and "offer personalized recommendations," ranging from rest to nutrition and mental health. These solutions allow promoting physical activity, good nutrition, adequate rest, and better stress management, with reliable but non-intrusive data collection.

Mental health is today one of the main concerns of companies and one of the primary causes of sick leave. In this area, Eurecat promotes advanced research projects, such as digital twins of workers with mental health problems. Based on a "360-degree data collection" —biological, clinical, and environmental—, risks of burnout, stress, anxiety, or depression can be identified, and preventive measures activated before the problem escalates. In parallel, the center works on digital therapies based on personal empowerment, with personalized training resources, music therapy in multimedia environments, 3D sound, and new neurofeedback techniques.

As Miralles highlights, "nutrition is another key area in the prevention of occupational hazards." In this context, from its Nutrition and Health unit, Eurecat promotes applications that facilitate systematic data collection and the definition of personalized diets, even based on biological data. These technologies, developed by the same center, are subsequently adapted to the specific needs of companies.

Prevention also involves reducing the physical risk associated with certain jobs, such as those performed on assembly lines. In this area, Eurecat works on biomechanical studies and the development of exoskeletons to support workers subjected to repetitive efforts or a high physical load. These devices, especially designed for arms and shoulders, help to "prevent overloads, injuries and sick leave," improving safety and health in the workplace.

Occupational safety goes much further, and also includes protection against environmental and chemical risks. Eurecat develops solutions for detecting toxic substances and chemical leaks using advanced sensors, applicable to both mining and the chemical industry. Added to this are projects linked to the impact of climate change, such as the prevention of risks associated with heat waves, with initiatives promoted by Eurecat's Climate Resilience Center in Amposta. In parallel, the technology center works on wastewater analysis to preventively detect possible infectious outbreaks. Many of these projects are developed in collaboration with the Generalitat, as well as with city councils and other administrations, especially in environmental and public health areas.

Together, all these initiatives show that occupational safety goes far beyond regulatory compliance. Betting on occupational risk prevention through technology, research and public-private collaboration is key to protecting the health of workers, reducing sick leave and building safer, more sustainable work environments prepared for the challenges of the future.