Global patenting activity
Patenting activity measures how many patent families are published every year in a specific field, offering a glimpse into innovation trends. Since patents typically get published about 18 months after filing, this metric provides a delayed but nonetheless valuable perspective on technological progress. Comparing the patent growth of an industry and its respective technology areas to global trends helps to reveal whether it’s rapidly evolving, holding steady or losing momentum.
The patent publication trends in OHS-related technologies have experienced significant growth over the past decade, reflecting an increasing focus on workplace safety and innovation. From 2014 to 2021, the number of patent families steadily rose, peaking in 2021 with a substantial surge, most likely due to new Protection patents filed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of patent filings increased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR)
The field of Prediction has exhibited significant growth in patent filings in the last five years, between 2018 and 2023. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for this period stands at 26.4%, markedly higher than the global CAGR of 2.7% across all technology fields. This disparity reflects a heightened interest in and commitment to innovation within this domain. The trend culminated in 2023, with the publication of 2,823 patent families, indicating a peak in patenting activity.
Patent filings related to Detection have demonstrated a steady upward trajectory in the last five years, reaching their highest point in 2021 with 17,825 patent families. This increase underscores a growing emphasis on innovation and workplace safety. The primary drivers behind this trend include advancements in technology and the broader digital transformation of workplaces. Notable developments in sensors, automation, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and wearable devices have spurred numerous innovations during this period. These technologies enhance workplace safety by enabling real-time detection and monitoring capabilities, likely contributing to the sustained interest in this field.
In the domain of Protection technology, patent filing trends between 2018 and 2023 have been characterized by fluctuations, with a peak of 43,060 patent families published in 2020. However, the CAGR for this period is approximately -1.3%, indicating a slight overall decline in filing activity despite periods of strong interest. This data suggests that while the overall growth rate has decreased marginally, the field remains dynamic. The peak filing years highlight continued investment and innovation aimed at improving workplace safety through advancements in Protection technologies.
In respect to the breakdown of the OHS patent portfolio across the three technology categories (Prediction, Detection, and Protection), Figure 3.2 illustrates the share of patent families in each category in total. Protection solutions dominate the portfolio with 280,686 patent families, or 62% of the total, reflecting the importance attached to technologies designed to protect workers against occupational hazards. Detection technologies account for 157,183 patent families, or 35% of the portfolio, reflecting significant investment in systems that identify and monitor workplace risks. Prediction systems, on the other hand, account for just 14,777 patent families, which is barely 3% of the total.
A cross-section of the OHS technology categories by industrial sector (Figure 3.3) reveals significant variations in patenting activity. The Protection category has the highest number of patent families, particularly in manufacturing (106,796) and construction (93,566), indicating a strong focus on workplace safety measures in these two industries. Similarly, the Detection category is quite active, with manufacturing (66,637) and construction (63,059) leading the way in terms of patent filings, indicating the growing importance of real-time safety monitoring systems. The Prediction category, while having lower overall patenting activity, shows notable contributions across various industries, with services (7,631) and construction (9,289) leading the way. This data shows that those industries with higher occupational risks, namely manufacturing, construction and agriculture, are investing more in occupational health and safety innovations, particularly in Protection and Detection technologies.
A comparative overview of the global OHS patent portfolio shown in Figure 3.4, reveals a significant disparity between domestic-only and international patent families. While there are 452,646 domestic-only patent families, representing patents filed and protected within individual jurisdictions, only 65,235 of these are also designated as international patent families. This indicates that only 13% of OHS patents are strategically represented across multiple jurisdictions (countries/regions).
Figure 3.5 illustrates the distribution of patents across the three OHS categories – Protection, Detection, and Prediction – differentiating between international patent families (IPFs) and domestic-only patent families. For example, in the Protection category, domestic-only patent families significantly outnumber IPF, with 280,686 compared to 45,867, indicating a strong focus on localized patent protection.
Similarly, the Detection category shows a similar pattern, with 157,183 domestic-only patent families and 17,919 IPF. The Prediction category, while smaller overall, also follows this trend, with 14,777 domestic-only patent families and 1,449 IPF. In all three technology area, domestic-only patent families dominate, suggesting a preference for national or regional patent protection over broader international coverage within the OHS field.
Top jurisdictions
Patent family analysis offers valuable insights into the regions driving innovation in a specific field. Typically, the first filing in a patent family, known as the priority filing, is made in the applicant’s country of origin. This choice is often influenced by legal frameworks and cost considerations, making the location of the priority filing (the office of first filing) a key indicator of where active R&D and innovation is most likely to have taken place.
Figure 3.6 illustrates the distribution of OHS global patent families according to R&D location. Asia leads the way with 79% of the global patent families, indicating that most of the R&D activities relating to OHS are carried out in this region. With relatively lower shares, Northern America stands at 9% and Europe at just 6% of the total. The rest of the world contributes 7%, reflecting a smaller presence.
In terms of priority authorities (offices of first filing) for patent families, China comes out on top, with 297,841 patent families, making it the dominant force in OHS innovation. The United States follows with 40,709 filings, maintaining a strong but much smaller patent portfolio in the field. The Republic of Korea ranks third with 28,376 patent families, while Japan is fourth with 18,889 filings. These four countries collectively account for nearly 90% of worldwide OHS patenting activity (Figure 3.7).
In terms of priority authorities for international patent families (IPF), Figure 3.8 reveals the predominance of the USA, with over 20,500 patent families, followed by China, with 7,549 and Japan, with 7,289. The Republic of Korea, and Germany, with 4,897 and 4,234 patent families respectively, also made significant contributions, further reinforcing the global nature of OHS development.
As regards the regional breakdown of international patent families (IPFs), as shown previously in Figure 3.6, Asia holds the largest proportion with 35%, indicating a strong international patent strategy. Northern America follows closely at 33%, reflecting significant cross-border protection efforts. Europe accounts for 24%, showing a considerable presence in international patent filings.
Top patent owners
Analyzing worldwide OHS patenting activity reveals the strategic importance attached to the protection of IP rights. Leading technology companies and manufacturers are committed to protecting their OHS innovations. This ongoing quest for patent protection underscores the recognized value of advances in OHS and their potential impact on a wide range of industries.
In terms of the OHS patent applicants, and more specifically among IPFs, Figure 3.9 shows that electronics manufacturer Samsung Electronics leads the ranking with a total of 1,193 IPFs filed. Technology companies Apple (608 IPFs), Sony (566) and 3M (416) follow behind. Huawei (391), Seiko Epson (378), Meta (377) and LG (363) also demonstrate a strong commitment to OHS. These data underline the growing importance of OHS and its integration into a wide range of products and services.
Beyond patents – insights into market, regulatory, and economic landscapes
In this part of the report, a selection of related market reports have been reviewed, analyzing the market trends and market forecast evolution of the workplace safety market.
The global workplace safety market is experiencing significant growth, driven by increasing concerns over employee well-being and stringent industrial health and safety regulations. In 2023, according to a MarketsandMarkets report
This expansion is largely attributed to a rising number of workplace injuries and fatalities, which has heightened the emphasis on implementing comprehensive safety measures across various industries. For instance, based on a Zion Market Research study
On the another hand, according to an IndustryARC report
However, the market faces challenges, particularly in respect to high initial costs of implementing safety systems. The MarketsandMarkets report
Regionally, according to Fortune Business Insights
In summary, the workplace safety market is on a robust growth trajectory, driven by increasing safety concerns, regulatory pressures, and technological innovations. However, addressing cost-related challenges will be crucial to ensuring the widespread adoption of these essential safety measures across all sizes of organization.
Correlating insights gathered from these reports with the key findings of the patent analysis shows that the global workplace safety market is set to undergo transformative growth, driven by advancements at the three intervention levels: Prediction, Detection, and Protection solutions.
Prediction solutions have become a focal point, with AI and machine learning enabling predictive analytics to identify potential hazards before they materialize. According to IndustryARC, such technologies are being integrated with historical data and real-time inputs so as to forecast risks and thereby, minimize workplace injury and fatality.
Detection solutions are at the forefront of workplace safety strategies. Zion Market Research highlights the adoption of drones, AR and VR as tools for real-time hazard monitoring, workforce training and emergency response simulation. Such innovations are empowering organizations to maintain continual vigilance and rapidly address safety concerns.
Protection solutions remain a cornerstone of occupational safety, with MarketsandMarkets emphasizing the growing investment in PPE, advanced safety systems, and automated shutdown mechanisms. Such measures not only shield employees from harm, but also ensure compliance with stringent safety regulations across industries.
The synergy of these three OHS categories, based on predictive, proactive and protective approaches, reflects a paradigm shift in workplace safety. By integrating cutting-edge technologies and addressing diverse safety needs, the workplace safety market is set to exceed USD 30 billion by 2028, creating safer, more resilient workplaces worldwide.