New WIPO resources
Patent Landscape Report: Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Technologies
The latest WIPO Patent Landscape Report offers a comprehensive and data-driven overview of global patenting activity in this essential field. By analyzing thousands of patent filings, the report identifies key innovation trends, major technology developers, and geographical patterns in OHS-related innovation.
Each year, millions of people are affected by unsafe working conditions, with an estimated 3 million lives lost due to occupational accidents or work-related diseases, and nearly 400 million workers suffering non-fatal injuries. These staggering figures underscore the urgent need for innovation in occupational health and safety – innovation that not only protects lives but also reduces the economic burden associated with workplace injuries, which accounts for nearly 4% of global GDP.
The report focuses on three main areas of technology:
- accident prediction technologies that use AI, sensors, and data analytics to anticipate and prevent workplace incidents;
- detection and monitoring tools that track hazardous conditions and worker health in real time; and
- protection technologies, including advanced personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety systems designed to mitigate risks.
This new report is a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, companies, and innovators looking to understand the evolving landscape of workplace safety technologies. It supports informed decision-making and fosters collaboration to address one of the world’s most pressing labor challenges.
The full report can be found at:
As background, under the Development Agenda project “Developing Tools for Access to Patent Information”, WIPO is mandated to produce patent landscape reports in areas of particular interest to developing and least developed countries, such as public health, food security, climate change, and the environment. For more Patent Landscape Reports please visit:
https://www.wipo.int/publications/en/series/index.jsp?id=137