Influence of Artificial Intelligence Technology Integration on Occupational Health and Safety among workplaces in Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64348/zije.2026480Keywords:
Artificial intelligence, occupational health and safety, risk management, workplace safety, service deliveryAbstract
This paper explores how artificial intelligence can improve occupational health and safety service delivery in Nigerian workplaces. It frames OHS as a service function that supports prevention through hazard identification, training, and timely incident management. It notes systemic constraints such as weak documentation and reporting, limited enforcement capacity, gaps in awareness and professional skills, and extensive informal work. The discussion is situated within Nigeria’s OHS framework, including the Factories Act, the National OSH Policy, the Employees’ Compensation Act and NSITF coverage, and the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. Six AI capability areas were examined which are risk prediction, natural language processing of incident narratives, computer vision in high risk settings, wearables for exposure and fatigue monitoring, AI supported learning, and decision support for safety officers and clinics. It concludes that AI adoption should be phased and NDPA compliant, with investments in power, connectivity, data quality, and workforce skills to sustain safer, more productive operations. It was then recommended that AI should be deployed in OHS in Nigerian workplace to facilitate smooth service delivery and that all present and perceived constraints to the deployment of AI should be promptly addressed to forestall their negative impact on the deployment of AI.
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