Contemporary occupational health and safety that is accepted in science and practice acts directly as a technology companion. In addition to technical and technological innovations and changes, such as the introduction of new assistance systems, artificial intelligence in smart practical and communication tools, greater market saturation with sensor and laser technologies, and the introduction of new technologies in the course of decarbonization, social changes are also drivers or obstacles to occupational health and safety, which must be implemented at an early stage in the sense of a high level of protection. The targeted recruitment and support of older employees, the increased access of people with a migrant background to the labour market and the flexibilisation of work, e.g. through mobile forms of work, are selected examples of this. In addition, climate change and social climate protection measures pose special challenges for occupational health and safety. The Chair of Occupational Safety and Health at the University of Wuppertal actively deals with selected fields of design of the above-mentioned changes and challenges in teaching, research and policy consulting. Interdisciplinary approaches to solutions, with close technical and methodological links, e.g. to civil protection and fire protection, but also to education and communication sciences or stakeholder in the circular economy, are required in order to develop practical design concepts.