evaluation of the european strategy on safety and health at work ...

EVALUATION OF THE EUROPEAN STRATEGY ON SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK 2007-2012165There is a continuing need for <strong>the</strong> integration <strong>of</strong> occupational health into <strong>the</strong> widerhealth sphere, encouraging awareness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> potential benefits to both employeesand employers <strong>of</strong> healthy lifestyle choices.6.2.6 Rehabilitation and <strong>the</strong> accommodation <strong>of</strong> age-relatedchangeMusculoskeletal disorders are likely to remain a significant issue amongst <strong>the</strong> EU-27 workforce. However, as well as ongoing efforts aimed at <strong>the</strong> prevention <strong>of</strong>injury, attention should also be paid to <strong>the</strong> better rehabilitation <strong>of</strong> those wi<strong>the</strong>xisting or degenerative disorders where efforts will be needed to enable <strong>the</strong>m toremain in productive work. There is clear evidence that some musculoskeletaldisorders are part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> inevitable process <strong>of</strong> age-related degenerative change.6.2.7 Revisions to existing challengesAs stated above (6.2.2) it is anticipated that some health problems and risks <strong>of</strong>current major concern (e.g. musculoskeletal disorders and workplace stress) willcontinue to be significant concerns for <strong>the</strong> immediate future. As well as <strong>the</strong>influence <strong>of</strong> demographic change, one contributory element to this is likely to bechanges in <strong>the</strong> nature <strong>of</strong> some types <strong>of</strong> work leading to an increased risk potential.Specifically, advances in ICT and pressures to reduce <strong>the</strong> emissions <strong>of</strong> greenhousegases associated with travel will see a growing reliance on homeworking. As aresult, unless adequate control measures are introduced, employers will have lesscontrol over <strong>the</strong> workplaces <strong>of</strong> those using computers for work, with a consequentincreased risk <strong>of</strong> MSDs. In addition, <strong>the</strong>re is a risk that homeworking will tend toincrease <strong>the</strong> isolation <strong>of</strong> workers 191 , removing traditional avenues <strong>of</strong> social supportfrom peers etc.Again, without suitable controls, some risk factors for workplace stress couldincrease with a concomitant disturbance <strong>of</strong> work-life balance, although <strong>the</strong>evidence seems to be mixed, some suggesting a positive outcome from such workwith o<strong>the</strong>r researchers suggesting more adverse effects 192 193 194 . PEROSH, forexample, warn <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> risk that <strong>the</strong> increasing blurring between work and homemight result in an increase in mental pressures and a poorer work-life balance 195 .191 Crosbie T, Moore J (2005) Work–life balance and working from home. Social Policy &Society 3:3, 223–233192 Hill EJ, Miller BC, Weiner SP, Colihan J (1998) Influences <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> virtual <strong>of</strong>fice onaspects <strong>of</strong> work and work/life balance. Personnel Psychology, 51: 667–683.193 Perrons D (2003) The new economy and <strong>the</strong> work–life balance: conceptual explorationsand a case study <strong>of</strong> new media. Gender, Work and Organization. 10: 65-93194 Bloom N, Liang J, Roberts J, Ying ZY, (2012) Does working from home work?Evidence from a Chinese experiment. http://www.stanford.edu/~nbloom/WFH.pdf195 Working environment challenges for <strong>the</strong> future, 2009, PEROSH.http://projects.cowiportal.com/ps/A019055/Documents/3 Project documents/Interim and final report/Final report October 2012/OSH <strong>evaluation</strong>-report_Final_submitted 14 March2013.docx