A Platform for Success: Safety, Health and Rights in the Gig and Platform Economy

The growth of the gig and platform economy is changing how work is organised, creating new opportunities for businesses and workers while also presenting significant challenges for safety, health and wellbeing.  

In A Platform for Success: Building a Better Future in the Gig Economy, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) examines the implications of gig and platform work for workers, businesses and policymakers, and sets out practical recommendations to help ensure that innovation and flexibility are accompanied by appropriate protections and support.

The paper highlights how workers operating through digital platforms and non-traditional employment arrangements may face barriers in accessing occupational safety and health protections, training, support mechanisms and representation. It explores how platform business models, employment status, digital management systems and evolving ways of working can influence working conditions and worker outcomes.

Drawing on evidence and policy analysis, the publication calls for governments, businesses, platform operators and occupational safety and health professionals to work together to strengthen protections and rights for gig and platform workers. IOSH advocates for safety, health and wellbeing to be embedded in the design and management of platform work, ensuring that occupational safety and health considerations remain central as labour markets continue to evolve.

The paper provides practical recommendations to help organisations better understand and manage risks, improve working conditions and support sustainable business performance. It promotes a proactive approach that recognises the changing nature of work while ensuring that worker protection remains a priority.

By highlighting the importance of responsible business practices, effective governance and safe and healthy working environments, A Platform for Success contributes to wider discussions on the future of work and supports efforts to ensure that the benefits of platform and gig work can be realised while protecting workers' safety, health and wellbeing.