text: **5.2 Technological developments – influence on OSH**
  During the past 20 years**significant technological developments and changes**have taken place in 
  all sectors at nearly all workplaces. Literature related to the relation between technology development 
  and OSH focuses on horizontal or**cross-cutting technologies**that influence all sectors, particularly 
  automation and digitalisation as its main elements and drivers. Digitalisation facilitated the development 
  of new services based solely on digital technologies. It has an enormous impact on practically all types 
  of work.*Digital technologies now provide essential services to all sectors of our economy and society*. 269 
  The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) estimates that 7 of 10 
  workers need*‘at least some fundamental ICT level to be able to perform their jobs.’*270 These 
  developments considerably influence the ways of interaction between humans and between humans 
  and machines. 
  
  Beside such major cross-cutting technologies there are**numerous essential sector- and process-**
  **specific technological**developments that influence work in a sector or occupations. Technological 
  developments are often based on the application of**several intertwined technologies**, for example, 
  mechanical engineering, microelectronics, chemical engineering and optical technologies. The progress 
  of effectiveness, speed and price of**transport technologies**might illustrate this. This progress was 
  essential for the growth of international trade and the organisation and functioning of supply chains 
  between countries and continents. This development needed the computerisation of the logistics but 
  also progress in manufacturing of trains, trucks, ships and aircraft towards lower costs, higher speed, 
  higher capacities and high reliability. 