16/10/2026
Safety for the future
A New Foresight Workshop on “Invisible” Workers
On October 15, Foncsi organized a new workshop in Paris with its sponsors and partners on “Safety for, and by, ‘invisible’ workers.” A look back at a constructive afternoon filled with fruitful discussions.
Following two previous workshops, one held in 2025 on the future of safety in the face of major societal, environmental, and industrial changes, and another in early 2026 on AI and safety, the Foundation has just organized a new foresight workshop focusing on the safety of “invisible” workers. Around fifteen participants took part, representing industry, regulatory authorities, and labor unions.
- ASNR
- Air Liquide
- CGT/CEA
- DGAC-DSAC
- EDF
- FCE-CFDT
- FO
- IMDR
- Natran
- OPPBTP
- Orano
- SNCF
- Vinci Construction
An overview of the categories, employment statuses, and impacts of “invisible” workers
The first part of the workshop was devoted to introducing the topic and providing an overview of the categories identified in the literature:
- Lower-level employees in large companies performing “small jobs”
- Self-employed workers
- Foreign subcontractors working in France
- Subcontractors working abroad
- Undeclared workers
- Temporary workers
- “Niche” experts
- Very small businesses (VSBs) / small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs)
The participants then worked in groups to discuss the relevance and comprehensiveness of these categories, as well as their impacts on or links to occupational health and safety and industrial safety. A plenary session then gave participants an opportunity to compare how “invisible” workers are used within their respective organizations.
“Living with” the use of “invisible” workers from a safety perspective
The second part of the workshop focused on solutions to improve these workers’ occupational health and safety, as well as industrial safety. Each participant had an opportunity to describe the measures implemented within their company.
Coming up...
During this afternoon of discussion, participants were able to describe the employment statuses and profiles of the “invisible” workers they work with, explain how they organize and ensure these workers’ individual safety, and discuss their broader impact on industrial safety.
The Foundation is currently preparing a summary of this workshop, which will be made freely available in the coming months.
Foncsi will also organize a new foresight workshop in Paris in March 2027 on a topic currently under development.
