Papers
7
Total Citations
908
H-Index
5
About
John Howard is a prominent occupational safety and health researcher whose work sits at the critical intersection of emerging technology and worker well-being. As a scholar affiliated with the CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Howard has dedicated much of his career to anticipating and addressing the workforce implications of rapid technological change, particularly artificial intelligence and robotics. His most influential contribution, "Artificial Intelligence: Implications for the Future of Work" (2019), has garnered nearly 500 citations, establishing him as a leading voice on how AI reshapes labor across industries. This work, alongside his NIOSH-focused vision for occupational safety and health in a changing economy (193 citations), demonstrates his commitment to translating complex technological trends into actionable policy frameworks. His earlier research on workplace robotics (143 citations) was notably forward-thinking, addressing human-robot collaboration safety before it became mainstream concern. Across seven major publications spanning 2015 to 2025, Howard has consistently examined algorithmic management, industrial robotics, and AI risk — building a coherent intellectual legacy around protecting workers from novel technological hazards. His scholarship serves as essential reading for policymakers, safety professionals, and researchers navigating the profound human dimensions of workplace automation.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Artificial intelligence: Implications for the future of work495 citations · 2019
- 2
- 3Working safely with robot workers: Recommendations for the new workplace143 citations · 2015
- 4Managing workplace AI risks and the future of work38 citations · 2024
- 5Algorithms and the future of work34 citations · 2022
- 6Industrial Robotics and the Future of Work3 citations · 2025
- 7Robotics in the Workplace2 citations · 2020