News

The Hospital Bambino Gesù - Roma, in collaboration with the ENWHP and other scientific committees, organized in Bressanone in the days 17-21 - June 2019 a Summer School to discuss on wellbeing in the workplace. It is well known that individual and occupational well-being has direct and indirect business effects on various economic and non-economic factors, such as absenteeism, high turnover, transfer requests, low levels of motivation, lack of trust and commitment, increase in complaints, suitability with limitations, occupational diseases and labour law disputes. Recent changes in the world of work (ageing of the work force, increase in work rhythms and loads, difficult balance between work and home commitments, attention to the work climate, etc.), together with the incidence of chronic-degenerative diseases (cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and oncological diseases), require the adoption of health promotion programmes and an ever-increasing attention to work wellbeing, as also provided for in Legislative Decree 81/08, articles 25 and 28. The sessions illustrated some good practices and national and international experiences related to occupational well-being understood as a qualifying managerial element within the company of the activities related to Prevention in the workplace (Disability Management, Health Promotion, Personalized Prevention and Workplace Well-being).

The Research Division has been very active since the beginning of the year, becoming involved on 4 proposals to the European Commission programmes.  Two of these have been submitted to the H2020 call for better health and care, economic growth and sustainable health systems and are concerned with developing and testing tools to address mental health issues in the workplace.  These proposals are led by organisations from Spain and from Italy and the ENWHP is a partner in both proposals.

The other 2 proposals have been submitted to the Erasmus Plus programme, which is the Commission’s main programme for developing vocational training programmes.  The first is concerned with developing training in WHP to a high level, something which is lacking in most EU countries, while the second is looking to develop training in the area of promoting physical exercise in the workplace. You can find out more about these 2 proposals in the Training Division part of the website.

Evaluation of proposals such as these generally takes 3 months or so – we expect to hear the outcomes of this process in the early summer.

During the conference celebrating the World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2019 the ENWHP Spanish Contact Office has presented three interesting publications (in Spanish) on Cancer and Occupations, A procedure for occupational diseases case analysis and a Practical encyclopedia on Occupational Health. All these publications are available for free.

Trabajando en positivo has launched a video* about non-discrimination of people living with HIV the 1st of March for the Zero discrimination day promoted by UNO.

*In Spanish

The Global Commission on the Future of Work has undertaken an in-depth examination of the future of work. Its landmark report outlines the steps needed to achieve a future of work that provides decent and sustainable work opportunities for all.The Global Commission on the Future of Work has undertaken an in-depth examination of the future of work. Its landmark report outlines the steps needed to achieve a future of work that provides decent and sustainable work opportunities for all.

 Click here to have an overview and download the report. 

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has launched an awareness campaign and a dedicated website with resources to address RSI including an e-course and communication materials.

INSHT, the Spanish contact office of ENWHP, has just launched a tool for estimating the economic return of investment of Workplace Health Promotion Programmes. The tool provides an overview of the quality of WHP programmes which is used to modulate the results: more quality more return. This tool, like other existing ones, has some limitations that derive from estimation and assumptions. So, the tool is offered especially as a support to manage and promote the commitment of the different actors of the company in the improvement of wellbeing. The tool is in Spanish and is available at http://costespromosalud.insst.es

The Guide is the result of the European Fitwork project  It aims to support people who want to develop programs to increase physical fitness among workers and prevent musculoskeletal disorders. The guide addresses issues related to how to a) persuade employers and employees to participate; b) ensure high rates of participation; c) integrate the program with other existing health (and safety) programs; d) ensure that the program is repeated and improved for future implementation.