Facilitating project document

FACILITATING PROJECTS FOR OBJECTIVE 5

FACILITATING PROJECT	GPA 5.1: Review and summary of cost-benefit studies to clarify the economic benefits of workers’ health
Project title	Review and summary of cost-benefit studies to clarify the economic benefits of workers’ health
GPA Objective	Objective 5: to incorporate workers’ health in to other policies
GPA Actions	5.24 to 5.28
Priority Area	Priority 5.1: Collate and conduct cost-benefit studies to clarify the economic benefits of workers’ health.
Purpose of facilitating project	The aim of this facilitating project is to coordinate projects that directly contribute to achievement of Priority 5.1 – to examine these industries, identify causes of injuries and fatalities, and collate and conduct cost-benefit studies to clarify the economic benefits of workers’ health, thereby contributing to GPA Objective 5.
GPA Manager	Wendy Macdonald
CC Initiative Leader and contact information	Jos Verbeek ([e-mail]), Diana Gagliardi ([e-mail])
WHO responsible person	Evelyn Kortum
Collaborating centre partners with separate contributing projects	5.24 Economic dimensions of occupational safety and health. Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH). Jos Verbeek, [e-mail] 5.24b National analysis of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY) in relation to occupational diseases and injuries and indication of prevention strategies in workplaces. Dept. of Occupational Medicine, ISPESL. Dr Diana Gagliardi ([e-mail]); Dr Bruna Maria Rondinone ([e-mail]); Dr Carlo Grandi ([e-mail])
WHO Regional offices actively involved in this project (name and email)
Summary of the facilitating project	The primary purpose of this project is to identify gaps in the deliverables expected from the existing three projects, as a basis for identifying future strategies and specific projects to more effectively clarify the economic benefits of improved OSH.
Anticipated deliverables by 2012 from contributing projects	5.24 Eleven presentations from a workshop on The impact of OSH on company performance, downloadable from: http://www.ttl.fi/Internet/partner/Ecosh/Workshop+on+Productivity/presentations.htm. Workshops to date have identified various needs for further action, including: Two further workshops in 2009, on: Economic evaluation of OSH interventions Economic incentives for the uptake of OSH measures. Additional information on the Ecosh website Written reports: 9 scientific articles summary report for WHO network (most effective means of dissemination to be discussed) 5.24b Occupational risk factors and exposed worker population have been identified. Calculation of DALY (ongoing) Two publications have been producted: Valenti A, Rondinone BM, Iavicoli S – Salute e sicurezza sul lavoro – Costo Zero (3): 70-71, 2008. Rondinone BM, Boccuni F, Petyx C, Valenti A, Iavicoli S – Proposta di applicazioni della metodologia per il calcolo del DALY (Disability Adjusted Life Years) per le malattie professionali in Italia – G Ital Med Lav Erg 2006, 28(3): 341-343. Quantification of number of DALYs due to occupational diseases at national level. Quantification of costs per DALY avoided Synthesis of major results on scientific peer-reviewed publications Transferability of results through training events
Critical Gaps	Gaps in research evidence: Insufficient insight into the relation between physical and mental health and job performance or productivity Insufficient insight into the relation between job satisfaction, engagement and commitment to work. For some of these parameters we don’t even now if they contribute to health or to illhealth. Gaps in professional expertise of OSH practitioners: OSH practitioners need more expertise in marketing and communication strategies; and in using/implementing costbenefit analysis techniques. Need for wider dissemination of OSH: Should mainstream OSH into education system, especially in courses of lawyers, engineers, economists.