## 4 Results and Discussions
### Applications in Occupational Health and Safety in Manufacturing
#### 4.2.1 Continuous Monitoring and Risk Prediction
These tools analyze vast datasets to evaluate risks, predict equipment failure, and identify environmental threats. They also support the mental health of workers by interpreting emotional data to proactively trigger support mechanisms, preventing severe mental health issues. Similarly, wearable technologies and IoT sensors, such as smart PPE, IoT devices, motion sensors, and MoCap systems, enable continuous and seamless data collection on worker health and environmental conditions. These digital tools provide real-time alerts for unsafe behavior and support proactive risk management. For instance, these technologies can be used to monitor vital signs, detect falls, and analyze posture to improve workplace ergonomics [8; 50]. Wearable trackers monitor and analyze human performance in demanding environments and issue timely warnings [80]. By integrating wearables, sensors, and ML, predictive modeling can create smart personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent workplace accidents [18]. For instance, Operator 4.0 leverages digital technologies to enhance productivity, well-being, and safety [50]. Additionally, IoT devices, such as gas sensors, further improve industrial safety by detecting environmental threats and alerting operators in real time [7; 34]. This is also supported by [55], where smart factories use intelligent sensors, cloud computing, and IoT to promptly detect fires and other accident risks. In summary, the benefits of leveraging these technologies include continuous data collection, immediate alerts, enhanced emergency response, improved ergonomics, reduced physical strain, facilitated proactive maintenance, and accurate ergonomic evaluations. Immersive Technologies, particularly VR and AR, provide immersive risk visualization and real-time guidance, enhancing situational awareness and training. They offer cost-effective body tracking for ergonomic risk evaluation, simulate human-robot interactions and confined spaces, overlay safety information and real-time data for enhanced situational awareness, display warnings on equipment, and guide operators through the procedures. For instance, VR enables accurate ergonomic evaluations through virtual environments and MoCap and simulates confined spaces for safety analysis. For example, the VR ErgoLog system supports the analysis and improvement of human movement in virtual settings [75]. Additionally, VR also facilitates ergonomic studies in confined spaces and HRC. Furthermore, AR tools overlay critical safety information and real-time data to enhance the situational awareness of workers. They help prevent individual, collective, and environmental risks by detecting hazards and supporting workers in real time. For example, AR goggles with multispectral and infrared vision extend sensory perception, while AR headsets provide real-time task instructions to prevent errors and accidents [7; 31], such as environmental contamination, unsafe equipment positioning, or harmful physical fields. Finally, HRC systems, such as bionic exoskeletons and DT-powered interfaces, optimize the interaction between humans and robots by reducing physical demands, simulating ergonomic workflows, and enhancing safety and productivity in hybrid workspaces. Collectively, these technologies form an integrated ecosystem that advances safety, efficiency, and human-centric design in modern industrial environments.