Concept and Objectives

Platform work has the potential to be the most ‘disruptive’ labour market phenomenon of the past decades. Its share of the total labour market is still modest according to recent estimates, but platform-like work arrangements are steadily expanding. Whilst studies of platform work now proliferate such as investigating its extent, business models, quality of work and worker characteristics, etc., the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) implications of platform work have remained unexplored. However, there are good reasons to assume that OSH policy and practise is also being disrupted within platform work. This disruption challenges the ambitions of the SDG8 of having decent work and the EU pillar of social rights: fair working conditions and equal opportunities as well as access to the labour market. Consequently, ensuring that platform work provides a safe and healthy work environment is essential.

This proposed project wants to fill this gap in research and therefore aims to: (i) investigate the OSH risks and regulations of platform work and (ii) provide recommendations to foster a safe and healthy occupational environment for platform workers in Europe and beyond.

Research questions

RQ1. In which ways are different forms of platform work (online and on-location) associated with OSH risks and poor health? What are the main short- and medium-term OSH risks and health outcomes reported in the main forms of platform work?

RQ2. How do platform workers experience OSH aspects of their jobs? Do these experiences differ across different forms of platform work? How do these experiences change over time?

RQ3. How do platform workers from different forms of platform work experience their OSH in different European countries? What are the similarities and differences in these experiences across European countries?

RQ4. How do platform work managers perceive the OSH of employees/workers in different forms of platform work and European countries?

RQ5. What are the characteristics of platforms that maintain a healthy work environment (across different European countries) and how can other platforms learn from them?

RQ6. What are the regulatory contexts and challenges in terms of OSH posed by different forms of platform work? Which are the similarities and differences across countries?