Digitalisation, Safety and Privacy

Abstract

AbstractIn order to increase the safety of industrial facilities and people, firms and their managers traditionally pay attention to the visibility of activities and the intentions of workers. Firms and managers can use connected objects worn by workers to collect this data. Analysing the introduction of smart glasses and smart shoes in an industrial site, this contribution explains how workers can use these tools without sacrificing their autonomy and privacy. In this site, performance as well as the safety of the activities is based on a combination of high individual autonomy and solidarity between colleagues strengthened by a private life at work. The sociotechnical context of this industrial site and the desire of professionals to control their privacy at work have a strong impact on the trajectory of these technologies. They insist on the use of technologies with their colleagues which strengthen the bonds of cooperation and solidarity and are resistant to technologies that could geolocate them or trace their movements. Moreover, the association of user spokespersons is an essential condition for the success of the design and dissemination of digital technologies. Finally, the control of privacy and private life at work by the workers contributes to the reinforcement of the performance and the safety of production.