An asessment of the academic field of occupational health and safety education: Bibliometric review based on the web of science database

This study aims to examine the scientific literature published between 2020 and 2024 in the field of occupational health and safety (OHS) using bibliometric analysis. OHS is considered an interdisciplinary domain that encompasses not only individuals' physical health but also their mental, psychological, and social well-being. In recent years, digital transformation, global pandemics, and evolving working conditions have significantly influenced the research agenda in this field and introduced new priorities. Within this scope, 9,553 open-access academic publications retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database using keywords such as occupational health, occupational safety, ergonomics, and safety at work were analyzed. The study provides a detailed examination of publication trends by year, the most cited articles, prolific authors, institutions, countries, funding sources, disciplinary distributions, and the journals in which the research appeared. Additionally, keyword co-occurrence patterns, conceptual clusters, and international collaboration networks were mapped using advanced visualization techniques. The findings reveal that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the OHS literature, with increased focus on themes such as psychosocial risks, digital ergonomics, AI-assisted prevention systems, and employee mental health. The most substantial research output came from countries including the United States, China, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Italy, alongside a notable increase in interdisciplinary publications. This study makes visible the current trends, thematic structures, and academic collaboration dynamics in the OHS field, offering a strategic framework to guide future research. In doing so, it contributes to the theoretical body of knowledge while also serving as a decision-support tool for policymakers and practitioners.