The survey indicated that decision-makers were more optimistic than their staff.

Regarding AI, 63% of the 2,006 employers surveyed expressed optimism about its impact on their workforce, compared to 41% of the 2,012 employees who felt positive about its influence on their workplace.

Interestingly, over a quarter (26%) of both employers and employees believed AI would render their workplace ‘less safe’. This contrasted with the same percentage of employers (26%) who thought it would enhance safety, while only 13% of employees shared this sentiment.

When asked about the likelihood of AI replacing or superseding their jobs within the next decade, 68% of employees deemed it unlikely, while 23% considered it likely. Among employers, 20% predicted that less than 10% of their workforce would be replaced by 2034, whereas 6% anticipated that over 50% could be affected.

Optimism levels for AR and VR were somewhat lower, with 48% and 51% of employers respectively optimistic about these technologies' impact, compared to 33% and 31% of employees. Both groups showed mixed feelings regarding the safety implications of AR and VR, with around half foreseeing ‘no change’.

Peter McGettrick, Chairman of British Safety Council, said: “We commissioned this survey with YouGov to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the Health and Safety at Work Act and consider what lies ahead for health, safety and wellbeing in the coming half century. The findings show there is clearly more to be done to ensure that both employers and employees not just reap the benefits but are also given reassurance and support on some of the risks.

“While no one can predict the future entirely, change is inevitable. This is why we’re calling on the Government to incentivise companies who invest in new and developing technologies – like AR, VR, and AI – for the purposes of improving workplace health, safety and wellbeing.  Alongside this, we want to see more support for training to keep people safe, healthy and well in work.

“Our founder, James Tye, was instrumental in agitating the government of the time to set up a royal commission, which ultimately led to the Robens Report that led to the Health and Safety at Work Act. If you fast-forward 50 years, in recent years we’ve been calling for wellbeing to be at the heart of health and safety. Recently, we’ve called on Sir Keir Starmer in his new Government to put a Minister for Wellbeing in the Cabinet.”