Nothing illustrates the law of unintended consequences more clearly than the waves and ripples left in the wake of each new technological advance. Technology changes the way we live and the way we work, and requires a willingness to adapt that separates success from failure. That includes everything from the products we produce and the jobs we do to the gloves we wear while we do them.
Look at the modern workplace, where the gap between employment and productivity has been growing dramatically since the turn of the century.1 Advances in computing, robotics and other automated systems have contributed to a shrinking workforce in traditional manufacturing and industrial environments while creating opportunities in other areas. This evolution is changing not only the workplace, but the responsibilities and safety needs of today’s workers.