Originally published in Italian in 2025, the volume presents the integrative tools developed by INAIL to assess emerging psychosocial risks associated with profound changes in work organisation, working methods and the technological solutions increasingly adopted to support them. The English edition has been prepared with the aim of making these tools more accessible to international stakeholders and of strengthening scientific and institutional exchange among countries and networks committed to the protection of occupational safety and health. It also builds on the sustained interest generated over time by the English edition of the INAIL methodology for the assessment and management of work-related stress, first published in 2018, which contributed to wider international dialogue on evidence-based approaches to psychosocial risk assessment and prevention.
The relevance of this contribution is reinforced by the current transformation of work. Digitalisation, remote and hybrid work, artificial intelligence, smart monitoring systems, advanced robotics, platform work and algorithmic management are reshaping tasks, organisational processes and employment relationships. Recent European and international evidence highlights that these developments may offer important opportunities, including improved communication, greater flexibility, ergonomic benefits and more efficient work processes. At the same time, they may also generate or amplify psychosocial risk factors such as work intensification, cognitive and emotional overload, reduced autonomy, blurred boundaries between work and private life, constant connectivity, increased surveillance, uncertainty about roles and responsibilities, and reduced opportunities for social support and participation. Technology-related psychosocial risks cannot be understood as the automatic consequence of digital technologies alone. Rather, their impact depends on how technologies are designed, implemented and governed within specific organisational contexts. Studies on algorithmic management, for example, underline that automated or semi-automated systems for allocating tasks, monitoring performance, scheduling work or evaluating workers may affect job demands, decision latitude, fairness, transparency and trust. Similarly, research on technostress indicates that digital tools may become a source of strain when workers lack adequate resources, training, recovery opportunities or organisational support. Conversely, transparent implementation, worker consultation, digital literacy, supervisory support and a strong psychosocial safety climate can mitigate adverse effects and help ensure that innovation contributes to decent, healthy and sustainable work.
Against this background, the INAIL volume provides a timely contribution by offering integrative assessment tools that complement the established methodology for work-related stress risk assessment and management. The tools are intended to support organisations in identifying emerging psychosocial risk factors connected with remote work and technological innovation, while maintaining a prevention-oriented and participatory approach. Their development reflects the need to move beyond generic descriptions of digital change and to provide practical instruments that can be applied in real workplaces, taking into account both technological features and organisational conditions. This perspective is consistent with the broader European approach to occupational safety and health, which emphasises the integration of psychosocial risk assessment into general risk management processes, the involvement of workers and their representatives, and the adoption of preventive measures at organisational, collective and individual levels.
INAIL would be pleased to disseminate the publication, in order to promote their widest circulation and sharing among the OSH community. By making these materials available in English, INAIL aims to contribute to a common evidence base for the assessment and management of psychosocial risks related to remote work, digitalisation and technological innovation. The publication may be of interest not only to researchers, but also to OSH professionals, labour inspectors, social partners, policy makers and organisations seeking to anticipate and manage the implications of new forms of work. Their circulation within the PEROSH network and other international networks can therefore support the development of shared knowledge, encourage coordinated research initiatives and promote preventive approaches capable of combining innovation, productivity and the protection of workers’ health and well-being.
INAIL methodology for the assessment and management of work-related stress
Related institutes:
INAIL
Contact information:
Author(s): F. Boccuni
m.ronchetti@inail.it
Source/Copyright Holder image: Source: INAIL image archive not subject to copyright
