Innovation to Safeguard Workers' Health: Key Findings from the 2025 WIPO Report on Occupational Health and Safety Technologies

As the global workforce faces persistent occupational hazards, new data from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) demonstrates the critical role of innovation in protecting workers and advancing global health.

This article draws on the work of WIPO’s Development Agenda, in particular the 2025 WIPO Patent Landscape Report on Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) which was developed under the Development Agenda Project on “Reducing Work-related Accidents and Occupational Diseases through Innovation and Intellectual Property”. The project was proposed by Tunisia and approved by the Committee on Intellectual Property and Development (CDIP) at its 29th session (document CDIP/29/11), and the Report was one of its key outputs.

OHS provides a comprehensive review of nearly two decades of technological advancements aimed at anticipating, detecting, and mitigating workplace risks, setting out the current status of this rapidly evolving field by tracing the technological evolution of OHS and analyzing patent activity worldwide.

Patents provide a valuable lens through which to identify leading countries, companies, and research institutions that are driving innovation in this field.

The report finds that approximately 452,000 patent families, which are collections of related patent documents (including applications and/or granted patents) concerning the same invention, have been filed worldwide in the field of OHS since the year 2000. This surge in patenting activity reflects a growing recognition among governments, industries, and researchers that safer workplaces are essential not only to workers’ well-being, but also to sustainable economic growth and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Beyond mapping innovation trends, the report also highlights technologies that have a direct impact on global health given that they are designed to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses, which are often a major source of long-term disability and recurring health challenges. According to the World Health Organization, healthy and safe health workers are a prerequisite for well-functioning and resilient health systems and good-quality health care. 

Reporting a Global Challenge

Workplace injuries and illnesses continue to take a heavy toll on workers globally. According to the International Labor Organization, more than 2.93 million workers die each year due to occupational accidents or work-related diseases.

These large figures, and the underlying loss behind these figures, underscore the urgency of technological responses that can shift occupational health from being reactive to preventative.

To better understand this innovation response, the WIPO Patent Landscape Report classifies OHS technologies into three main pillars: prediction, detection, and protection.

Prediction Technologies

A prediction technology identifies potential hazards through risk assessment to prevent accidents before they occur. These technologies rely increasingly on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to analyze data and identify risk patterns.

A smart helmet used on construction sites is a good example of a simple prediction technology. The helmet, equipped with sensors, can track the worker’s movement, location, and nearby environmental conditions such as temperature. If the helmet senses that the worker is approaching a hazardous area, such as one with falling objects or toxic gas, it sends an early warning through sound or vibration. This helps prevent accidents before they happen.

According to the report, prediction technologies make up just 3% of all OHS-related patents. That said, this is the fastest-growing segment, with a compound annual growth rate of 26.4% in patents registered between 2018 and 2023.

China currently leads in patent activity in this segment, accounting for nearly 75% of published inventions, followed by the Republic of Korea and the United States. This concentration of innovation suggests that countries with strong manufacturing bases and occupational risk profiles are investing in predictive safety solutions.

Detection Technologies

Making up around 35% of all OHS-related patents, detection technologies focus on real-time monitoring of environmental and operational risks. These technologies include innovations such as wearable monitoring devices. Other examples can include gas and fire detection, noise and radiation monitoring, and location-based safety systems that enable swift responses to potential work hazards. These advancements are particularly important for improving worker safety in high-risk sectors such as healthcare (because of factors like exposure to infectious diseases, needlestick injuries, ergonomic strain and psychological stress due to high workloads)

While China continues to lead in patent filings in this category, the United States and several European countries are also pursuing international patents by seeking rights in multiple jurisdictions, highlighting their intent to make technologies available globally.

Protection Technologies

The largest category are protection technologies, comprising approximately 62% of all OHS-related patents. These innovations focus on reducing the severity of injuries, including through personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilation systems.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a sharp rise in patents related to respiratory protection. While overall filings have declined since 2021, interest remains strong in wearable protective devices and solutions that balance safety with comfort.

Technologies in this area range from hearing protection to fall-prevention systems. As in other segments, China leads in patent filings, followed by the United States and European countries.

Global Innovation Landscape and Key Players

In addition to China, countries in the European Union, as well as India, Japan, Republic of Korea, and the United States are also major contributors to OHS patents. Key corporate players driving innovation include global giants like 3M, Microsoft, Huawei, Samsung, and Sony. Academic institutions also play a significant role, with Chinese universities like Tsinghua University and Zhejiang University leading industrial applications of research.

As workplace risks continue to evolve, the growing body of OHS-related patents reflects a global commitment to leveraging innovation and intellectual property to create safer, healthier, and more resilient working environments.

The Global Health Unit at WIPO seeks to raise awareness and understanding of the linkages among global health, innovation, intellectual property and access to medical technologies.