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ICT-Enabled Mobile Work: Challenges and Opportunities for Occupational Health and Safety Systems

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  • Swantje Robelski

    (Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Nöldnerstraße 40-42, 10317 Berlin, Germany)

  • Sabine Sommer

    (Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Nöldnerstraße 40-42, 10317 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

The development and dissemination of new technologies has brought forward a rise in flexible work arrangements, such as mobile work. In the literature, mobile work has mostly been discussed from a microergonomic perspective, considering detachment, stress, strain, and life-domain balance. However, the macroergonomic or institutional perspectives have often been neglected, although for occupational health and safety (OHS) management, as well as occupational health and safety systems, many questions remain unanswered. Therefore, in the present paper, information and communication technologies (ICT)-enabled mobile work is described taking into account institutional and regulative, as well as company-related, requirements. As the literature-based analysis was able to show, existing regulations cover many aspects of mobile work arrangements but also offer starting points for a more concrete protection of mobile workers. Furthermore, there are challenges regarding the enforcement of regulation. In this regard, new technologies might offer the chance to improve the interactions between institutional and company-related occupational health and safety systems. Additionally, 278 co-funded research projects in Germany were categorized, yielding 18 projects on new ways of work, of which another eleven projects addressed different aspects of mobile work. The project analysis revealed that current research focuses on tools and strategies for designing communication and cooperation. In conclusion, the examination of research trends can be used to generate new knowledge for better OHS management and effective OHS systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Swantje Robelski & Sabine Sommer, 2020. "ICT-Enabled Mobile Work: Challenges and Opportunities for Occupational Health and Safety Systems," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-16, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:20:p:7498-:d:428350
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Galazka, Anna Milena., 2015. "Report on the global survey into the use of information and communication technologies in national labour administration systems," ILO Working Papers 994891643402676, International Labour Organization.
    2. Monica Molino & Emanuela Ingusci & Fulvio Signore & Amelia Manuti & Maria Luisa Giancaspro & Vincenzo Russo & Margherita Zito & Claudio G. Cortese, 2020. "Wellbeing Costs of Technology Use during Covid-19 Remote Working: An Investigation Using the Italian Translation of the Technostress Creators Scale," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-20, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ka Po Wong & Fion Choi Hung Lee & Pei-Lee Teh & Alan Hoi Shou Chan, 2021. "The Interplay of Socioecological Determinants of Work–Life Balance, Subjective Wellbeing and Employee Wellbeing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-24, April.
    2. Marlies Jöllenbeck & Olivia Maloku & Ines Berling & Tjorven Stamer & Elke Ochsmann, 2022. "Healthy Mobile Work: The Relationship of a Participative Work Agreement and Workplace Health Management-Qualitative Results of a Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-18, June.
    3. Matteo Curcuruto & Sian Williams & Margherita Brondino & Andrea Bazzoli, 2023. "Investigating the Impact of Occupational Technostress and Psychological Restorativeness of Natural Spaces on Work Engagement and Work–Life Balance Satisfaction," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-13, January.
    4. Patricia Tegtmeier & Corinna Weber & Sabine Sommer & Anita Tisch & Sascha Wischniewski, 2022. "Criteria and Guidelines for Human-Centered Work Design in a Digitally Transformed World of Work: Findings from a Formal Consensus Process," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-31, November.

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