Category: automation

Federation of European Ergonomics Societies within the Community of Practice on Industry 5.0

Aleksandar Zunjic

The Community of Practice on Industry 5.0 (CoP 5.0) is a European network of experts, researchers, and industrial stakeholders established by the European Commission. Its mission is to jointly develop, test, and disseminate the principles of Industry 5.0 by fostering collaboration, exchanging best practices, and supporting policy development that connects industry, society, and sustainable development. In 2024, the Federation of European Ergonomics Societies (FEES) became an official member of CoP 5.0.

FEES joined CoP 5.0 to actively promote the human-centric approach as a core element of Industry 5.0. Ergonomics is, by definition, a human-centric scientific discipline that focuses on the interaction among humans, machines, and the working environment. Human-centred design is a key area of ergonomics, and ergonomic principles play a critical role in shaping industrial systems that are aligned with human capabilities, limitations, and well-being.

From an ergonomic perspective, the contribution to Industry 5.0 can be highlighted through several key aspects:

Inclusion of human operators

Ergonomic principles emphasise integrating human factors into the design of equipment, technologies, and work processes. By considering human strengths and limitations, industrial systems can achieve higher levels of safety, efficiency, and usability, thereby contributing to more sustainable, operator-friendly solutions.

Utilisation of workplace expertise

FEES recognises the value of workers’ practical knowledge and experience. The human-centric approach of Industry 5.0 encourages employees to actively identify problems and co-develop solutions, ensuring that innovations are grounded in real working conditions.

Team involvement and participation

Ergonomics supports participatory approaches in which teams are directly involved in the design and optimisation of industrial systems. This participation improves the quality and relevance of solutions and strengthens workers’ sense of ownership and responsibility.

Balanced use of technology

While advanced technologies are essential, FEES emphasises their ethical and responsible integration. Ergonomics ensures that technology complements human work rather than overshadowing it, helping to prevent negative effects such as excessive workload, stress, or alienation.

Through its participation in CoP 5.0, FEES aims to ensure that ergonomic principles underpin the human-centric transformation of industrial systems, aligning technological development with human well-being, organisational productivity, and societal values. As a multidisciplinary scientific field, ergonomics also contributes to the development of resilient, sustainable industrial systems.

Within CoP 5.0, Prof. Aleksandar Žunjić, Secretary-General of FEES, together with Dr Sebastian Capotescu (ErgoWork Society of Romania), were selected by the European Commission as a member of the expert working group Business Case 5.0 for Sustainable Competitiveness. This group, in close cooperation with the Hubs 5.0 working group, supports the development and promotion of Industry 5.0 under the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission.

As an outcome of the work carried out within the Business Case 5.0 for Sustainable Competitiveness expert group, Aleksandar Žunjić and Sebastian Capotescu published four scientific papers in 2025 addressing the role of the human-centric approach and human factors in achieving the sustainability objectives of Industry 5.0:

  • Zunjic, A., Capotescu, S., Cuevas-Lopez-de-Baro, C., Cordea, C., Lukic, P. V. M. (2025). Contribution of the human-centric approach to environmental, social and economic sustainability. IETI Transactions on Engineering Research and Practice, Vol. 9, Issue 1, pp. 1–10.
  • Zunjic, A., Capotescu, S., Cuevas-Lopez-de-Baro, C., Cordea, C., Yue, X.-G. (2025). Contribution of the human-centric approach to technological, resource and innovation sustainability. IETI Transactions on Engineering Research and Practice, Vol. 9, Issue 1, pp. 11–22.
  • Zunjic, A., Capotescu, S., Cuevas-Lopez-de-Baro, C., Cordea, C., Yue, X.-G. (2025). Contribution of the human-centric approach to organizational, market, and health sustainability. IETI Transactions on Engineering Research and Practice, Vol. 9, Issue 1, pp. 23–34.
  • Capotescu, S., Zunjic, A., Cuevas-Lopez-de-Baro, C., Cordea, C. (2025). Human factor as central approach in a sustainable business model for Industry 5.0. IETI Transactions on Ergonomics and Safety, Vol. 9, Issue 1, pp. 22–45.

Safe and Healthy Work in the Digital Age: Adapting OSH for the Future

Gyula Szabo Leave a comment

Digitalisation is revolutionising the workplace, bringing opportunities and challenges requiring new ergonomics / human factors solutions to update occupational safety and health (OSH). With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), big data, collaborative robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), algorithms, digital labour platforms, and increased remote work, workers and employers face new risks and opportunities. The key to addressing these challenges lies in how these technologies are applied, managed, and regulated within current social, political, and economic contexts.

EU-OSHA’s Efforts and Campaigns

EU-OSHA’s Healthy Workplaces Campaign, “Safe and Healthy Work in the Digital Age” (2023-2025), aims to raise awareness about the implications of digital technologies on workplace safety and health. This campaign underscores the importance of a human-centred approach in designing, implementing, managing, and using these technologies to ensure they are safe and productive. The priority areas:

Advanced Robotics and Automation – Key Considerations for Human Interaction and Trust

According to the Agency’s recently published Policy Brief, “Advanced robotics and automation: Key considerations for human interaction and trust“, the growing autonomy in advanced robotic systems necessitates a shift in the terminology from ‘use’ to ‘interaction’ between humans and robots. The quality of this interaction significantly impacts occupational safety and health (OSH) factors. Various aspects of robotic interaction design, such as cognitive ergonomics, outward appearance, embodiment, robot behaviour, and communication styles, are linked to OSH risks and opportunities. The primary objective is facilitating smooth and natural interactions, enhancing well-being, acceptance, trust, and user experience while mitigating stress and other adverse outcomes.

Anthropomorphic Robot Design

  • Appearance and Behavior: Human-like features (e.g., eyes, facial expressions) can enhance natural interaction and acceptance, especially in social robotics. However, excessive human likeness may cause negative emotions due to the “uncanny valley” effect.
  • Expectation Management: Anthropomorphic features may lead to unrealistic expectations about a robot’s capabilities, potentially impacting task performance and safety. For example, workers might erroneously attribute visual or auditory perception to robots with eyes or ears.
  • Task-Relevant Design: In industrial settings, anthropomorphic movements can improve workflow and task accuracy but must be carefully designed to avoid misinterpretation and potential hazards.

Interaction Principles and Transparency

  • Design Principles: General ergonomic design principles, such as those in EN ISO 9241-110, apply to robotic systems, improving usability and user experience.
  • Cognitive and Sensorial Aid: With increasing robotic autonomy, interaction design must provide mental and sensory aids to prevent information overload and ensure effective decision-making.
  • System Transparency: Adequate transparency is crucial for users to understand robotic actions and intentions, fostering trust and reliability. However, too much information can overload and hinder critical information processing.

Trust in Human-Robot Interaction

  • Calibrated Trust: Appropriate trust in robotic systems is essential for effective collaboration. Over-reliance can lead to complacency, while insufficient trust can result in underutilisation. Trust must be calibrated to match the robot’s capabilities.
  • Influential Factors: Trust is influenced by human-related factors (e.g., user satisfaction, comfort), robot-related factors (e.g., reliability, anthropomorphism), and context-related factors (e.g., team collaboration task difficulty). Reliable and empathetic robots foster higher trust levels.

Risks and Recommendations

  • Privacy and Control: Collecting and analysing data for personalised interaction can raise privacy concerns and feelings of alienation. Ensuring transparency and adhering to data protection regulations is critical.
  • Training and Adaptation: Training on automation bias and system capabilities can mitigate trust miscalibrations. Continuous adaptation to user preferences and task requirements enhances interaction quality.

“Napo in… robots at work”

“Napo in… robots at work” animation provides an overview of safety considerations related to workplace robotics. The film outlines various emerging robotic technologies, associated accident types, key hazards, and control measures.

Production line workers face the highest risk, followed by maintenance workers. Most injuries result from poor workplace design and human error. Technological advances, such as fixed robots, collaborative and mobile robots, and exoskeletons, can enhance working conditions and introduce new hazards in manufacturing environments.

Join the Campaign

The Federation of the European Ergonomics Societies is one of the few EU-OSHA “Safe and Healthy Work in the Digital Age” campaign partners. Ergonomists have a crucial role in creating healthy workplaces and improving performance and user satisfaction.

Please learn more about ergonomics, human factors and occupational health in the digital age. Visit the campaign’s new “Automation of Tasks” Priority Area for more information, resources, materials, insights and practical tools to ensure safe and healthy work environments in the digital age.