An examination of digitization, automation, and human factors in the context of industry 4.0 in occupational health and safety from past to present

This thesis evaluates the evolution of the business world from a historical perspective, analyzing the impacts of Industry 4.0 on occupational health and safety (OHS). It delves into significant periods in work life, explaining changes in labor relations by highlighting critical developments such as worker-employer relationships in factories and the emergence of unions, with a focus on the industrial revolution era. Examining the changes in the business world alongside the rise of post-industrial societies and information technologies, the thesis observes that technological advancements during this period led to issues like increased unemployment and weakened unions. The contemporary technological progress and digital transformation have given rise to Industry 4.0, representing a stage where cyber-physical systems and the Internet of Things transform production processes. Emphasizing the necessity for OHS to adapt to digitization, the thesis focuses on the impacts of Industry 4.0 on OHS policies, extensively exploring the effects of Cyber-Physical Systems, the Internet of Things, and Smart Factories on OHS policies. While discussing the changes in working life due to Industry 4.0 and its impacts on existing OHS policies, the thesis underscores the importance of revising OHS policies. Finally, taking into account the OHS situation in Turkey, the thesis thoroughly discusses the steps that need to be taken to adapt to the Industry 4.0 transformation.