Objective 2: To protect and promote health at the workplace
CC or NGO Name
Clinica del Lavoro “Luigi Devoto”, Milano, Italy
Project title
Flexible working hours as a tool for increasing worker’s health and
well-being
Keywords
Working hours, shiftwork, work/non work conflicts, occupational
stress, sleep
Project leader
e-mail address
Prof. Giovanni Costa
giovanni.costa@unimi.it
Partners (of the CC
network)
Coronel Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health,
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
Fundacentro, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Other partners
Jagellonian University, Krakow, Poland
Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
Founding
Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e
Regina Elena, Milano
Objective of the project
- To analyse better the interactions between work load, flexible work hours and health, and to support intervention studies with careful control of the effects;
-To establish links and exchange of information among people in charge of work organisation (employers, managers, work councils, labour inspectorates) and social partners about the use of time and related effects, for a good integration of working and non working hours;
- To extend individual flexibility as a tool (a) for companies to improve their economic efficiency (optimize manning), (b) for improving worker’s autonomy and control on her/his working conditions, (c) for thus improving her/his working and living conditions, (d) for adding social value to the quality of life in general.
Project outcome(s) and deadline(s) for completion of the project
-To review legislation on working hours and the scientific literature concerning “flexible working hours” dealing with health and wellbeing (by 2008)
- To collect practical examples of innovative flexible work hours and evaluate them according to ergonomic criteria (by 2008)
-To develop methods for the evaluation of the impact of flexible working hours on workers’ health (by 2010);
-Guidelines on good arrangements of FWH according to ergonomic
principles, throughout participatory planning and publishing "best practice" examples showing that is possible (by 2010)
Target group and/or
beneficiaries
Industrial, healthcare and communication workers
Summary of the
project
The increasing interest in “temporal flexibility” is in relation to policies
concerning working time reduction and employment on the one hand, and, on the other hand, to a progressive transfer of attention from the quantitative to the qualitative aspects of work and social activities, among which working times represent the most important interrelated factor. There are different points of view about “labour flexibility” between employers and employees; also the society is interested in flexible working hours, as many advantages can derive from a more flexible arrangement of social activities and services.
The main objectives are:
- To analyse better the interactions between work load, flexible work hours and health, and to support intervention studies with careful control of the effects;
- To establish links and exchange of information among people in charge of work organisation (employers, managers, work councils, labour inspectorates) and social partners about the use of time and related effects, for a good integration of working and non working hours;
- To extend individual flexibility as a tool (a) for companies to improve their economic efficiency (optimize manning), (b) for improving worker’s autonomy and control on her/his working conditions, (c) for thus improving her/his working and living conditions, (d) for adding social value to the quality of life in general.
Dissemination
WHO documents, booklets and training packages for workers and operators of prevention, scientific publications.
Impact
Global
Progress on Project
Are still in the preliminary stage of contacting all people interested and planning a meeting to share common targets and specific contributions.
We presume to be able to define a more detail plan of activities and a time schedule of outcomes by the end of this year.
Obviously the contribution of any other group interested on this topic is welcome.
List of outcomes already achieved by this project
- Reviewed legislation on working hours and the scientific literature concerning “flexible working hours” dealing with health and well-being
- Collect practical examples of innovative flexible work hours and evaluate them according to ergonomic criteria (by 2008)
List of additional outcomes expected from this project by 2012
- To develop methods for the evaluation of the impact of flexible working hours on workers’ health (by 2010);
- To write a booklet of guidelines on good arrangements of FWH according to ergonomic principles, throughout participatory planning and publishing "best practice" examples showing that is possible (by 2010)
2009-2012 Work Plan Number
GPA2.13j
New Project
CONTRIBUTING PROJECT Title
SWING: Stress Prevention project: Develop tools, interventions, best practice examples, economic indicators, impact analysis approaches and recommendations for a psychosocial risk management toolkit including an online questionnaire.
GPA Objective
Objective 2: to protect & promote health at the workplace
Responsible CC or NGO Name
Institute of management, school of Business, Switzerland
Project leader
Dr Volker Schulte
volker.schulte@fhnw.ch
Network partners
Dr Stavroula Leka, Instiute of Work, Health and Organisations, University of Nottingham, UK,
Country ministries involved in this CONTRIBUTING project
Health Promotion Switzerland,
Luca Weber,
lukas.weber@promotionsante.ch
External partners for this CONTRIBUTING project
Swiss Insurance Association,
Heinz Roth, Head of Prevention
heinz.roth@svv.ch
Summary of the project
Health Promotion Switzerland and the Swiss Insurance Association (SIA) are jointly conducting interventions for health promotion in the workplace in a wide range of companies. This involves an analysis of the impact of the interventions with regard to the reduction of the negative consequences of stress, a study of economic indicators and making general recommendations and arguments supporting the broad implementation of OH interventions. The project is based on the products and experience of sme-vital www.kmu-vital.ch
Target group and/or beneficiaries
Employees in various industries
Events-opportunities for furthering the project
Valorisation and international dissemination of project’s results gibt es Fora, Conferences, etc. die du hier nennen kannst?). a conference could be organised in co-operation with the WHO CC Network
Expected results of this project by 2012 (outcomes)
Developed project tools for analysis survey of staff members) and implementation (OH interventions with emphasis on stress) are set up and made available to interested companies (for free!)?. In addition, guidelines, arguments, recommendations and examples of best practices are drawn-up and disclosed to decision makers and specialists in the areas of health, economics, politics and administration.
Indicators of achievement (impact)
The tools used impact positively on all levels:
1. Organisational framework conditions (structure and organisation)
2. Working conditions (work structuring – ergonomics and work content – and social conditions)
3. Individual behaviour (coping with stress) Thus, the following results are achieved:
a. Healthier and more efficient design of work processes
b. Improvement of health, well-being and job satisfaction of individual staff-members
c. Increase in performance capacity, performance readiness, motivation and individual coping abilities of staff members
d. Improvement of corporate culture
e. Improvement of company image (internally and externally) which contributes to improvement of competitiveness and location advantage
Major Milestones (list up to three dates and milestones)
Survey of staff members 12/08
Implementation of tools 12/09
Finalization evaluation 06/10
Public health impact
Reduction of presenteeism, reduction of absenteeism
Funding source(s)
Health Promotion Switzerland
Swiss Insurance Association
Dissemination
Throughout social partners and health ministries
Area 3
2009-2012 Work Plan Number
GPA2.15d
Formerly AA2:NP24
GPA Objective
Objective 2: To protect and promote health at the workplace
CC or NGO Name
Health and Safety Laboratory (in partnership with Leeds University)
Project title
Increasing physical activity: designing and testing a workplace intervention
Keywords
Physical activity, physical exercise, well-being, occupational health, health promotion
To develop and evaluate a flexible and problem-based work place intervention to promote physical activity that requires no previous experience and could be implemented in any organisation.
Project outcome(s) and deadline(s) for completion of the project
Main Outcome: Intervention tool-kit to support development, implementation and evaluation of increased physical exercise in any work place context. Changes are intended to be easily assimilated into existing habits and practices rather than a radical overhaul of lifestyles. The project is due to complete October 2009.
Target group and/or beneficiaries
Any employer and their employees regardless of industry sector, work conditions or scale of operations.
Summary of the project
The sample comprises 1500 participants from a Local Authority, NHS Trust and Transport Company within a cluster randomised controlled trial. Baseline, process and 12 month follow-up measures will be undertaken using self-report outcomes and physiological indicators of health and fitness. The intervention tooI-kit will be developed using ‘intervention mapping’ and will be based on the latest behavioural change research. Key barriers will be identified through a series of focus groups. The intervention will be delivered on site by a nominated local facilitator. The range of work contexts represented within the sample should enhance transferability of findings to most work settings.
Dissemination
A communication plan has been set up for promoting the work and disseminating the tool. Links with the UK Government’s Health, Work and Well-Being Strategy and the BUPA foundation will be utilised to ensure far-reaching dissemination across UK employers.
Impact (global or regional)
UK workplaces
Progress on Project
As of September 2007, the intervention tool-kit has been drafted and the project is now at the end of the planning and preparation stage. The test-phase will commence in October 2007.
Planning has entailed recruiting participant companies (requiring commitment from senior management), obtaining ethics approval, conducting focus groups to identify barriers, setting up procedures and protocols, identifying and specifying appropriate physiological measures, designing the intervention, producing a communication plan, and other supporting activities.
Baseline evaluation will occur from October 2007 to April 2008 (inclusive of the test phase) with follow up physiological evaluation occurring 12 months later.
List of major outcomes already achieved by this project
The health checks have been completed and the data is being compiled.
List of additional major outcomes expected from this project by 2012
Seven publications are planned and a final report on the intervention is in progress.
2009-2012 Work Plan Number
2.13i
New project
CONTRIBUTING PROJECT Title
Inventory of national guidance documents on job stress management and health promotion
GPA Objective
Objective 2: To protect and promote health at the workplace
Responsible CC or NGO Name
Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency (KOSHA)
Project leader
Jungsun Park (jsunpark@chol.com)
Jung-Keun Park (jkpark@kosha.net)
Network partners
Catholic University (Korea)
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan (JNIOSH)
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH)
WHO Regions involved in this CONTRIBUTING project
Dr. Hisashi Ogawa, WHO western pacific office
Country ministries involved in this CONTRIBUTING project
Ministry of Labor, Republic of Korea
External partners for this CONTRIBUTING project
Summary of the project
Conducting the project to develop guidelines for job stress management and health promotion through reviewing the existing projects as shown below.
- Development of the management index for work-related cardiovascular diseases
- Organizational and cultural characteristics of risk factors in occupational health
- Health condition and management for temporary construction workers in petrochemical industry
- Establishing and operating surveillance systems for occupational injuries or illnesses including needle stick injury and leukemia
Target group and/or beneficiaries
Workers and OSH practitioners
Events-opportunities for furthering the project
Presentations at conferences or workshops which are domestically and internationally held in western pacific countries
Expected results of this project by 2012 (outcomes)
A set of guidelines as well as relevant research papers will be produced
Indicators of achievement (impact)
Improvement of effects of the guidelines on both job stress and health promotion in workplaces when utilizing those guidelines
Major Milestones (list up to three dates and milestones)
12-31-2009: Completion of a set of proposals or plans to conduct the project
12-31-2011: Development and test of guidelines covering the different existing projects (they will be terminated by 2010)
3-1-2012: Dissemination of the guidelines to workplaces to be implemented accordingly. Verification may be explored as necessary.
Public health impact
The guidelines may be extensively utilized in educational/ training programs for the general population
Funding source(s)
Public
Dissemination
The guideline will be disseminated in workplaces and technical support will be provided accordingly.
List of major outcomes already achieved by this project
Four studies were conducted in 2010. These studies contain management and guidelines to protect and promote worker’s health.
A study on worker’s health promotion in workplaces
Musculoskeletal disorder and job stress risk factors in hospital nurses
Establishment and operation of a surveillance system on needle stick injury in healthcare personnel
Establishment and operation of a surveillance system on occupational blood and bone marrow cancers
List of additional major outcomes expected from this project by 2012
In 2011, a study on exposure to low back pain risk factors will be conducted in wholesale and retail workers. For surveillance on needle stick injury, a following study will be undertaken as well.
2009-2012 Work Plan Number
GPA2.14c
Formerly AA5:4f
GPA Objective
Objective 2: To protect and promote health at the workplace
CC or NGO Name
Fudan University School of Public Health, Shanghai, China
Fudan University School of Public Health, Shanghai
Funding
Each collaborating partner is responsible for its respective costs
Objective of the
project
Health promotion strategies in workplaces and integrated intervention including smoking control, physical activity promotion, healthy food, safety workplace will be implemented in some demonstration enterprises in Shanghai.
Project outcome(s)
and deadline(s) for completion of the
project
The expected outcome: models of workplace health promotion suitable for different types of enterprises are expected to be developed.
The deadline: December 2008.
Target group and/or beneficiaries
Enterprises
Summary of the project
Two enterprises from each one of 4 types of ownership enterprises (nation-ownership, domestic private ownership, foreign invested ownership and domestic and foreign co-invested) will be selected. Health promotion strategies in workplaces will be employed and integrated intervention including smoking control, physical activity promotion, healthy food, safety workplace will be implemented in these demonstration enterprises.
Dissemination
Publishing papers and project reports.
Impact; global/regional
China
Progress on Project (max 100 words)
One master student has passed his dissertation and one paper has been published in Chinese academic journal.
List of outcomes already achieved by this project
List of additional outcomes expected from this project by 2012
Area 4
2009-2012 Work Plan Number
GPA2.13p
New Project
GPA Objective
Objective 2: To protect and promote health at the workplace
CONTRIBUTING Project Title
Corporate Social Responsibility and Occupational Safety and Health: a potent contrivance to achieve the Millennium Development Goals
GPA Objective and Action
2
Priority Initiative
2.2 Healthy Workplaces
Responsible CC or NGO Name
Institute of Work, Health & Organisations, University of
WHO Regions involved in this CONTRIBUTING project (contact name and email)
AFRO
Country ministries involved in this CONTRIBUTING project (contact name and email)
External partners for this CONTRIBUTING project (contact name, organization and email)
Dr Bill Buenar Puplampu, University of Ghana, bbpups@ug.edu.gh Dr Peter Kamuzora, University of Tanzania, petkamu@udsm.ac.tz
Summary of the project (max 100 words)
While the potential of CSR for occupational health and safety is being increasingly researched in the developed world, not much is being done to tap its huge potential in Africa or the rest of the developing world. This project will address these issues and review the role played by government and increasingly by companies (under the aegis of CSR) .As enterprises have the potential to solve problems by acting responsibly and the project will develop guidance (in collaboration with WHO) to create awareness and tools demonstrate how this is possible in the local and regional context. It will also focus on developing capacities of the partner institutions by developing relevant material that can be incorporated into the current curriculum for training managers as well as OSH professionals in the HEIs.
The project is intended to be the first step towards enhancing the capacities of companies in Africa (and the developing world) to include OSH provision in their business activities by developing guidance and creating awareness. The project will also demonstrate how occupational health can help alleviate poverty and help in achieving the MDGs by promoting OSH through CSR.
The three broad aims are:
Demonstrate the role corporate social responsibility can play in the promotion of Occupational Safety and Health and build capacities by raising awareness and delivering training.
Explore the organisational cultures and leadership which facilitates CSR and particularly paying attention to OSH issues; this is critical for dealing with outcomes at the stakeholder level
Establish the case for Occupational Safety and Health and clarify its link with the Millennium Development Goals
Meeting with other experts at workshops, seminars and congresses etc.
Expected results of this project by 2012 (outcomes)
Tools and guidance that demonstrate the link OSH and CSR and steps to implement complimentary programmes
Developing capacities of the partner institutions by developing relevant material that can be incorporated into the curriculum for training managers as well as OSH professionals in the HEIs.
Indicators of achievement (impact)
Development of guidance and Indicators
Training of managers
Development of HEI curriculum
Major Milestones (list up to three dates and milestones)
First workshop (West African Region) Accra, Ghana – Nov/Dec 2010
Second Workshop (East African Region) – Dar es Salam, Tanzania – Nov 2011
Dissemination conference – October 2012
Public health impact
Highlight the potential of CSR and Soft policy in the promotion of OSH and take the first step towards tapping that potential in the developing world
Funding source(s)
British Council (DelPHE programme)
Dissemination
Workgroup meetings, conferences, academic and professional publications
Area 5
2009-2012 Work Plan Number
GPA 2.13n
Project title
Global framework and global guidance on healthy workplaces
GPA Objective
Objective 2: to protect and promote health at the workplace.
GPA Action
.Action 2.13: “Capacities should be built for primary prevention of occupational hazards, diseases and injuries, including strengthening of human, methodological and technological resources, training of workers and employers, introduction of healthy work practices and work organization, and of a health-promoting culture at the workplace. Mechanisms need to be established to stimulate the development of healthy workplaces, including consultation with, and participation of, workers and employers.”
Responsible
WHO Global Occupational Health Programme
Project leader
Evelyn Kortum, kortume@who.int
WHO Regions involved in this project
AFRO: Thebe Pule: pulet@afro.who.int
AMRO: Marie-Claude Lavoie: lavoiema@paho.org;
James Hospedales: hospedaj@paho.org
EMRO: Said Arnaout: arnaouts@emro.who.int
EURO: Rokho Kim : rki@ecehbonn.euro.who.int
SEARO: Salma Burton : burtons@searo.who.int
WPRO: Hisashi Ogawa: ogawah@wpro.who.int
Country ministries involved in this project
t.b.d.
Internal partners
Social determinants for health, non-communicable diseases, tobacco initiative, violence and injury, mental health, water sanitation and health, substance abuse and alcohol, disability, gender
External partners
International Labour Organization
World Federation for Occupational Therapists
Industrial Occupational Hygiene Association
World Economic Forum
International Employers Organization
Summary of the facilitating project
The implementation of the Global Plan of Action requires interventions at international, national and workplace levels. Workplace interventions should be planned and delivered in an integrated way bringing together health protection and health promotion. This project involves the following activities:
undertake literature review on Healthy Workplace models in all 6 regions
develop a global inventory of case studies of good practice and tools for creating healthy workplaces including the physical and psychosocial working environment, health promotion and enterprise interventions in the community
develop a global inventory of comprehensive models and programmes and their implementation methods
collect evaluation approaches based on defined indicators
develop an international expert group
develop a global framework on healthy workplaces that includes the common denominators across all six regions
Pilot and evaluate the framework in all 6 regions (min. 2 countries per region)
develop global guidance material for developing healthy workplaces programmes
identify and develop training modules to assist enterprises with implementation of the global healthy workplace framework and the guidance
collaborate with CCs on the development of country guidance for frameworks for various sizes of enterprise, various sectors, and various countries (both developed and developing)
Anticipated deliverables by 2012 from contributing projects
Global Framework for Healthy Workplaces (Background document and Executive Summary)
Inventory of good practice and experiences in the development of healthy workplaces
Inventory of healthy workplace implementation and evaluation tools that are readily accessible to enterprises
Evaluation of the framework based on pilots in the six regions in 2 countries minimum per region
Draft Guidance booklet in the Protecting Workers' Health Series for developing healthy workplaces, based on the pilot evaluation(s)
Training packages to assist enterprises in implementing the healthy workplace framework and guidance
Target group and/or beneficiaries
Governments, employer associations, civil society bodies, businesses of all sizes
Major milestones
October/November 2009 - Identification of pilot countries/businesses (min. 2 per region)
November 2009 - global report including global framework (peer-reviewed by all involved)
May 2010 - first draft of the global guidance document
January 2011 - global guidance document published in the Protecting workers' health series
March 2011: undertake pilots of the framework based on indicators and evaluation tools finalized
August 2011 : evaluation of pilots and guidance
February 2012: first draft of training packages for implementation of global, country and sector specific guidance
December 2012: guidance finalized
Dissemination plan
WHO Global and regional launches on 28 April 2013 on the occasion of the world day for workers injured and killed at work; WHO/HQ, WHO Regional and ILO websites