Schriftenreihe der Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin
- European Network - EN 2
K. Kuhn N. Henke V. Peters
European Network Workplace Health Promotion (ENWHP) Annual Report – 1999
Liaison Office of the European Network Workplace Health Promotion (ENWHP) Annual Report 1999
Dortmund/Berlin 2000
Liaison Office of the European Network Workplace Health Promotion (ENWHP) - Annual Report 1999
Funded by the European Commision
Authors: Dr. Karl Kuhn
Nathalie Henke, M.A.
Vivien Peters Printed and
edited by: Wirschaftsverlag NW
Verlag für neue Wissenschaft GmbH
Bürgermeister-Str. 74 - 76, D-27568 Bremerhaven Postfach 10 11 10, D-27511 Bremerhaven
Telephone: ++49.471.9 45 44 - 0 Telefax: ++49.471.9 45 44 - 77 Email: vertrieb@nw-verlag.de Internet: www.nw-verlag.de
Published by: The European Network Workplace Health Promotion Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Head Office Dortmund
Friedrich-Henkel-Weg 1 - 25, D - 44149 Dortmund Telephone: ++49.231.90 71 - 0
Telefax: ++49.231.90 71 - 454 Email: whp-net@baua.bund.de Internet: www.baua.de/whp-net Registered Office Berlin:
Department of Occupational Medicine Nöldnerstr. 40 – 42, D-10317 Berlin Telephone: ++49.30.51 54 8 - 0 Telefax: ++49.30.51 54 8 - 170 Email: berlin@baua.bund.de Internet: www.baua.de/whp-net
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. Printed on chlorine free blanched paper for preservation of the environment.
Note: Neither the European Commission nor anyone acting on its behalf is liable for any consequences which may arise from using this information.
ISBN 3-89701-638-9
List of Contents
Page
1. Background
52. Introduction
63. Workplace Health Promotion in Europe - Activities and results in 1999 -
3.0 Objectives in 1999 8
3.1 Public relations 9
3.1.1 New members/partners 3.1.2 Publications/conferences
3.2 ENWHP projects and partnership projects
3.2.1 Success Factors and Quality in WHP 12
3.2.2 WHP in small and medium-sized enterprises 13
3.2.3 Unemployment & Mental Health 13
3.2.4 European Conference and the European Status Quo Report 14 on Smoking in the Workplace
3.3 WHP in Europe
- Summaries of the national reports -
3.3.1 Austria 15
3.3.2 Belgium 17
3.3.3 Denmark 18
3.3.4 Finland 19
3.3.5 Germany 22
3.3.6 Great Britain 24
3.3.7 Greece 26
3.3.8 Iceland 28
3.3.9 Italy 29
3.3.10 Liechtenstein 30
3.3.11 Luxembourg 31
3.3.12 Netherlands 32
3.3.13 Norway 34
3.3.14 Portugal 35
3.3.15 Spain 37
3.3.16 Sweden 38
4. Summary
394.1 Outlook for 2000 – trends and perspectives 41
4.2 List of National Contact Offices 43
1. Background
The European Network Workplace Health Promotion (ENWHP) was created in 1995 with the financial support of the European Commission (DG Health and Consumer Protection, ex: DG V, F 3). It was established as part of the Programme of Action on Health Promotion, Information, Education and Training (N° 645/96/EC).
The Liaison Office at the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) in Dortmund, Germany, officially began work in November 1995, having organised a meeting in June 1995 with 50 representatives from all over Europe who together analysed the need for such a network. A questionnaire was drawn up and the results were evaluated to serve as a basis for the development of the Integrated Plan of Action on Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) in the European Union. This included a proposal for the structure of such a network.
The first official meeting was held in February 1996 in Luxembourg. Since then eight Network meetings have taken place in the member state holding current EU presidency.
The fact that all the 15 Member States and the three countries from the European Economic Area (Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) as well as Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Hungary have now joined the Network, illustrates how interest has grown over the past few years to achieve “Healthy Employees in healthy organisations”. The National Contact Offices (NCO) are mainly situated in state institutes and ministries but some are non-governmental organisations with an interest in promoting WHP on the national agenda.
At the 7th Network meeting, 29th-30th May, 1999 in Bonn a position paper was formulated by the members of the network in order to redefine the aims and objectives of the ENWHP in accordance with the Amsterdam Treaty, ratified in May 1999.
The European Network for Workplace Health Promotion (ENWHP) aims to develop strategies and policies in order to improve the health of people at work and to increase employability of those in and out of work in Europe. It co-ordinates the exchange of experiences and information on work and health within and between all fifteen EU member states and the three EEA countries. In view of future challenges and with the aim of expanding healthy workplaces and the employability of those in and out of work, the ENWHP regards the following as a basis for future activities:
• Developing and formulating policies and strategies for work, health and employability;
• Defining problems relevant to health in the work environment by continuous monitoring of health determinants;
• Initiating co-operation and communication between all different stakeholders;
• Supporting Small and medium Enterprises (SME´s) with adequate policies and strategies1
2. Introduction
Looking back over the past few years and at the achievements of the European Network Workplace Health Promotion (ENWHP), one can see that a turning-point has been reached. After the collection and dissemination of information (e.g. Models of Good Practice), attention is now directed more towards providing practical advice (development of recommendations for implementation). The collected information and the results, such as those of Quality Criteria of WHP, should now be used to improve and support the practice.
The ENWHP, now in its fifth year, has created a basis for developing strategies and recommendations which has gone some way towards helping decision makers and politicians in the European Union to develop concrete action for the implementation of WHP over the past few years.
1 Position Paper, Liaison Office ENWHP, Dortmund 1999
Article 152 of the Amsterdam Treaty ratified in May 1999, underlines the importance of health promotion and prevention in the European Union. It enlarged the scope, purpose and legal possibilities for Public Health Policy at EU level. It stipulates explicitly that “health protection requirements shall form a constituent part of the Communities’ other policies”. It is therefore becoming increasingly important to develop recommendations and policies for the improvement of the health of the people living in the European Union.
The ENWHP has provided an effective mechanism to ensure professional input into the implementation of the current public health programme. Pursuant to its own mission, the ENWHP will in future primarily be used to develop policy recommendations and strategies on health at the workplace. In this way the ENWHP will ensure that European initiatives will link intelligently with those in the member states.2
Having adopted two basic documents, the Luxembourg Declaration (November 1997), which defines the aims and objectives of WHP in the European Union, and the Cardiff Memorandum (May 1998) which focuses on WHP in Small and medium-sized enterprises, the main task for the ENWHP members in 1999 was the identification of models of good practice and the development of a concept for the implementation of WHP in the EU, as well as co-operation in other European projects. The first joint project, “Success factors and quality of Workplace Health Promotion”, was co- ordinated by the German contact office and carried out by all the members of the network. It was set up to collect models of good practice in Europe.
The project was brought to a conclusion at a European conference “Healthy Employees in Healthy Organisations”, held in Bonn on 31st May to 1st June 1999, and organised by the European Network for Workplace Health Promotion. The conference was considered to be a very important step towards the implementation of WHP on the national agendas. More than 250 guests and delegates from 29 countries in Europe attended the conference setting an "excellent example of the successful co-ordination of the European Network for Workplace Health Promotion”.3
2 “Position Paper for the European Network Workplace Health Promotion”,
3 Pádraig Flynn in his opening speech at the European Conference Healthy Employees in Healthy Organisations on 31st May 1999 in Bonn; WHP-NET-NEWS 6, Dortmund, August 1999”
3. Workplace Health Promotion in Europe - Activities and results in1999 -
3.0 The objectives in 1999 were:
Ø to develop concepts for advocating WHP in Europe and putting WHP on the national agendas, thereby increasing the willingness of economists and politicians to support the implementation of WHP in Europe
Ø to develop common standards
Ø to achieve a continual flow of information between the member states and from the member states to the European Commission
Ø to support European projects (e.g. Success Factors and Quality of WHP, Unemployment & Mental Health)
Ø to co-operate with other networks (ENHPA, “Networking the networks”)
This was achieved by:
Ø the development of policy papers (ENWHP Position paper; Future strategies of the ENWHP)
Ø the regular exchange of information mainly by e-mail
Ø the publication of the WHP-NET-NEWS (N° 5 and N° 6, preparation of N° 7) Ø maintaining a network homepage
Ø presenting the network at a number of conferences and workshops
Ø organising, and evaluating a biannual network meeting in collaboration with the respective NCO holding EU-presidency (Germany & Finland)
Ø supporting the first joint project “Success Factors & Quality of WHP”
Ø giving support and lending advice to other European projects and procuring partners for multilateral projects
3.1 . Public relations
3.1.1 New members/partners
The ENWHP was able to increase the number of contacts and partnerships in 1999.
It was encouraging to observe how much effort has been made by the members of the network to develop national Networks for the implementation of WHP, especially in the Eastern European countries. The presentation made by the Bulgarian partner, Zaprian Zaprianov at the 8th Network meeting 10th –12th December 1999, demonstrated how much can be achieved with governmental support and individual effort. The support given by ENWHP went a long way towards this development and should not be underestimated. The Bulgarian partner reported the achievements in the WHP-NET-NEWS N° 7
The interest shown for the Network was demonstrated by the participation of Ulrich Riese (European Agency for Safety and Health in Bilbao) at the meeting in Bonn and there will certainly be closer co-operation in future. Most of the Network NCO´s are also Focal Points for the Agency.
Another important partner for the Network is the World Health Organisation which was represented at the Network meeting in Helsinki by Desmond O´Byrne, who expressed a particular interest in collaborating with the ENWHP.
There was also an increase in co-operation between the European Network of Health Promoting Agencies. The ENWHP was represented at a reception organised at the European Parliament on September 21st 1999 by the ENHPA, aiming to introduce all the European health promoting networks. A seminar on mental health was held at the European Parliament on December 6th 1999. At the request of the Liaison Office, the Network contact partner in Belgium participated in this seminar which was also organised by the ENHPA. Several partnerships with other networks have been initiated, some of which are mentioned in 3.2.
3.1.2 Publications/conferences
Publications
The Liaison Office published two editions of the WHP-NET-NEWS and there has been an increase in the number of articles submitted for publication from many different sources. There has also been an increase in the number of orders via the Internet for Network publications, the WHP-NET-NEWS N° 3 , N° 5 and N° 6 have had to be reprinted.
The Liaison Office up-dated its homepage regularly (www.baua.de/whp-net). In 2000, it is planned to develop a common structure for all the NCO homepages, to include all the important ENWHP documents in the national languages and in English.
Although no TV interview took place by the Liaison Office in 1999, most of the Contact Offices had interviews on TV or radio to promote WHP on the national agendas.
Network meetings
Two Network meetings took place in co-operation with the German and the Finnish Contact Offices and the results were assessed by the Liaison Office.
The 7th Network meeting was held on May 29th – 30th in Bonn just before the European Conference, so that organisational details for the conference could be discussed at the meeting. The previous 6 months of networking was reviewed and continued with a discussion on the future of the network following the Amsterdam Treaty and the new Position Paper which had been drawn up and sent to the NCO´s before the meeting. The new pan-European project, “WHP in SME´s” was presented and discussed.
The Position Paper had been drawn up at the suggestion of the European Network of Health Promoting Agencies to enable the health promoting networks to define their possible role and function in the light of the Amsterdam treaty which had just been ratified on May 1st 1999. The ENWHP Position Paper was then finalised by a small group of native speaking network members and sent to the participants together with the minutes of the meeting.
The 8th network meeting took place on December 10th – 12th 1999 in Helsinki.4 This meeting at the end of the year was dedicated to discussing future strategies of the ENWHP as well as the new application for 2000 which had been sent to the European Commission in September. The next steps of the second pan-European project “WHP in SME´s” were also introduced. Many interesting reports from members and partners demonstrated the increasing interest in WHP. Robert Anderson from the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions reported on recent and planned work of the Foundation and Desmond O´Byrne from the WHO in Geneva presented the new WHO organisation and strategies and possible links to the ENWHP.
Conferences
The most important conference for the Network in 1999 was the first European Conference of the ENWHP “Healthy Employees in Healthy Organisations”, concluding the joint project “Success factors and Quality of WHP” and co-ordinated by the German Contact Office. In presentations and discussions, health experts and WHP practitioners, politicians and representatives of the social partners, took part in a decidedly positive exchange of experience in modern workplace health policy.
The opening speeches were given by Ms Eleonore Hostasch, the Austrian Federal Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs, Mr Matti Lamberg representing the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Mr Wolfgang Heller from the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, all representing the countries holding EU Presidency from the latter half of 1998 and for 1999. Valérie Corman spoke as representative of the European Employers' Federation; and Eric Carlslund representing the governing committee of the European Trades Union Federation.
In the keynote speech Pàdraig Flynn, the current EU Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, presented a paper in which he tackled the future prospects for work and health from the point of view of the European Union. He referred to the extension of the fields of action in EU health policy, provided for in the Amsterdam
4 Minutes of the 8th meeting see Annex 7
Treaty which was adopted on 1st May 19995. Well known European experts reported on the development and the perspectives for Workplace Health Promotion.
The major part of the conference focussed on the presentations given by the companies which had been selected for the example they had set in their efforts to care for the health and well-being of their employees. The companies presented their activities "for people and the company" and also gave poster presentations, demonstrating the many benefits to be gained from the investment in promoting the employees' health.
The successful cases which were sometimes striking, had resulted in a cut in sickness rates, a decrease in working accidents and employee fluctuation, a rise in productivity, greater employee and customer satisfaction and an improvement to the corporate image. This applied to many types of workplace in both the public and private sector, in production and in service sectors. Every size of company was represented, from small firms to multinational corporations.
The Liaison Office presented the network and its activities at many national and international conferences (e.g. Italy, the Czech Republic) too numerous to mention here.
3.2 ENWHP projects and partnership projects
The ENWHP is involved in several European projects The most important ones will be mentioned here:
3.2.1 Success factors and Quality in WHP
This first joint project was co-ordinated by the German Contact Office with the participation of all the network members. It commenced in June 1997 and was completed with the European Conference “Healthy Employees in Healthy Organisations” in June 1999. Three brochures were published with the results of the project: Quality Criteria of WHP, Models of Good Practice and a Questionnaire for self-assessment. The brochures are available at the BKK and from the Liaison Office.
5 The speech is published in this edition
3.2.2 Workplace Health Promotion in Small and medium-sized Enterprises
The basis for this project was set in the ratification of the Cardiff Memorandum in 1998 by the members of the network who will all give their support to this second joint project.
It will be co-ordinated by the Portuguese experts and will continue up until June 2001 and conclude with a second European Conference in Lisbon in May/June 2001.6
In contrast to larger companies, small and medium-sized enterprises are generally not as well represented as a field of action for workplace health promotion, although this rather "neglected" type of company occupies the majority of employees. With this in mind the project will pursue the following objectives:
• to describe and analyse the current practice of workplace health promotion (WHP) in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the member states and the countries of the European Economic Area
• to develop a European consensus concerning criteria for good WHP practice in SMEs
• to identify and document models of good practice for WHP in SMEs
• to develop recommendations for workplace health in SMEs
• to increase awareness and enhance the commitment of all stakeholders by dissemination of good practice.
3.2.3 Unemployment & Mental Health
This project focuses on the impact of unemployment on mental health. It is co- ordinated by the Spanish University of Deusto in Bilbao, the Finnish Agency STAKES and the Austrian Institute INTEGRAL.7 The steering committee consists of a representative from the European Commission and from Mental Health Europe, the ENHPA, and the ENWHP Liaison Office. The network members were offered the opportunity of participating or of nominating an expert to fulfil this task. The Belgian and Dutch contact partners are participating themselves and the other NCOs have nominated national experts so that about 18 countries altogether are involved in this project.
6 information: lgraca@ensp.unl.pt or eiz@bkk-bv.de
7 more information on the project: www.umhp.org
The project aims to develop strategies to:
Ø improve the mental health and the well-being of individuals, families and communities affected by unemployment
Ø raise awareness among the different stakeholders of the multiple links and complex interactions between mental health and unemployment
Ø effectively promote and disseminate the results and recommendations produced by this project.
An international conference on the Impact of Unemployment on Mental Health will be held on 19th/20th May 2000 in Bilbao. It will provide an important forum for debate and for the development of new approaches. Topics to be covered will include long and short term unemployment and issues concerning younger and older people and women as risk groups for unemployment. The interim results of the Unemployment and Mental Health Project will also be presented and discussed. A final conference is planned for November to be held in France during the EU presidency.
During the Finnish Presidency, Mental health was a central priority. Following the Tampere conference of Mental Health and Social Inclusion, a resolution on Mental Health was adopted by the European Health Council.
3.2.4 European Conference and the European status quo report on Smoking in the Workplace
This project is co-ordinated by the European Network for Smoking Prevention
8(ENSP). All the 15 EU member states as well as Romania and Poland will take part.
The ENWHP will be involved in the work and will probably assist in organising the final conference.
The aim of the project is to increase understanding, educate and inform all players of the benefits of a smoke free workplace. The target groups are companies (management/human resource/health and safety officers), labour unions, national/international health authorities, policy makers, health professionals, NGO´s and European networks. The conference is planned to be held in January 2001 in
Berlin. The European report will probably be finalised by June 2001 integrating the results of the conference and the status quo report and will serve as a discussion basis for the conference.
3.3 Workplace Health Promotion in Europe - Summaries of the national reports
3.3.1 Austria
Contact: Elfriede Kiesewetter E-mail: Elfriede.Kiesewetter@ooegkk.at
In Austria 1999 was mainly dedicated to spreading the concept of Workplace Health Promotion throughout the country and in providing information and material on WHP to many interested individuals and organisations. Furthermore, work was invested in building up regional structures.
The NCO also participated in the collection of models of good practice as part of the joint network project “Success factors and quality in WHP”, presented at the European Conference held in Bonn.
The fourth national information day titled “ Workplace Health Promotion – a review with perspectives” was held in October, 1999. More than 100 participants took the opportunity of gathering more information about successful Models of Good Practice and about the four years of work carried out by the Austrian Contact Office. The conference was organised in co-operation with the Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Industrialists.
A training course was organised November 15-17, 1999 to instruct potential moderators or project leaders on WHP and to provide concrete advice on health promoting measures at work. It was organised in co-operation with the “Fonds Gesundes Österreich”.
8 More information: ensp@pophost.eunet.be
Information/ Public Relations
A newsletter including a report on the Bonn conference, a short version of the MOGP presented at the national information day, and a calendar of events for 1999, was printed and sent to 350 interested parties.
Several articles were published in expert journals and WHP was introduced and presented at numerous conferences and workshops in Austria.
The project data bank is regularly updated.
Another organisation playing an important role in the field of WHP, is the Fonds Gesundes Österreich, a national institution for health promotion and prevention, whose main role is to support projects and work on this subject. It provides both financial support and service and information. Two conferences were held in Salzburg and Vienna on "Theory and Practice" of WHP and "Aspects of Mental Health" and training courses were offered on:
• "The successful planning of health promotion projects" in co-operation with the NCO
• "Quality Management in WHP", a training course for project leaders in the field of health promotion and for employees from the public services
• "Health Promotion - Education-Network", to support and promote the efficiency and resources of practitioners.
Future perspectives
An Austrian award for WHP is being planned, aiming not only to publicise best practice but also to motivate more companies to put WHP on their agendas. The award will be made for the first time on the 5th national information day in October 2000.
The NCO is planning to establish regional contact partners in each province to ensure easy access for those involved in WHP and enterprises. Most of the regional contact offices will be set up in the sickness insurance companies. A workshop will be held in February 2000 to discuss the tasks and responsibilities of these offices.
3.3.2 Belgium
Contact: Konstantin von Vietinghoff-Scheel E-Mail: IAP@skynet.be
There is clear evidence that the concept of Workplace Health Promotion in Belgium has received a boost in recent years thanks to the interest of the Ministry of Employment and Labour and various other social partners.
Belgium, in conforming to European regulations, has taken a major step forward in the legislative framework regarding WHP and has become one of the more progressive players in the field.
The workplace is now subject to new regulations that demand that all employers have to be actively involved in the general health and wellbeing of their workforce. To give this new legislation greater impact, a new advisory panel has been set up to act as a resource/ advisor to management and to co-ordinate internal and external WHP.
In Belgium, every company is legally obliged to comply with regulations relating to security, health, wellbeing, ergonomics, labour conditions and sanitary conditions at the workplace. Within these regulations certain obligations have to be fulfilled by the:
employer and the employee (including supervisors), the Internal Service of Preventative Practices and Safety and the Committee on Preventative Practices and Safety at Work. These obligations relate to technical, organisational and administrative matters as well as dealing with the human element of any organisation. For instance, greater emphasis is now placed on good communication between employer and employee.
The regulations are ratified by the Constitution, Royal Decrees, Ministerial Decrees, Regional Decrees and Collective Agreements. Regulations relating to the health and safety of employees in the workplace are exclusively federal matters, but local government looks after a number of issues such as protection of the environment from pollution.
The Wellbeing-law – the law regarding the wellbeing of employees in the workplace (“Welzijnswet – wet betreffende het welzijn van de werknemers tijdens de uitvoering van hun werk” 04.08/1996) is the fundamental law relating to health and safety in the workplace and stipulates that the King (The Minister of Employment and Labour) has authority to implement various measures (Royal Decrees). This law replaces previous legislation called the Safety-Law (Veiligheidswet) of 10/06/1952.
The concept of “wellbeing” is defined as follows:
1. Safety
2. Safeguarding of employee health in the workplace 3. Psycho-social pressure caused by the job
4. Ergonomics 5. Hygiene
6. Working environment
7. Assessment of the company regarding issues 1 to 6.
3.3.3 Denmark
Contact: Kjeld B. Poulsen E-Mail: KBP@AMI.DK
In Denmark measures to improve health have been diverse and uncoordinated.
However, efforts have been made to prevent disease and accidents in the workplace, while local authorities have started to address lifestyle issues. Considerable improvement can be seen in the working environment as a whole but the escalation of ill-health amongst unskilled labourers demands new initiatives. The Danish Labour Minister, Ove Hygum, has therefore proposed a move away from the traditional concept of voluntary health measures and has looked towards imposing stricter legislation.
He has made a proposal which should help reduce the number of sick Danish workers, in the belief that it is essential for employees and in particular top management to change their attitude towards the working environment. One aspect of the Minister’s proposal is to introduce a system which registers those enterprises which inform stakeholder groups, employees, clients, suppliers, etc., of the enterprise's working conditions.
The government is also considering whether to pass legislation relating to an employer's duty to resolve problems at the workplace. A shaming policy could also be introduced and the names of those organisations with the worst record for poor working conditions made public. Traditional methods of regulation are also being discussed. A tax system similar to the one in Holland, where employers contribute to early-retirement schemes, is being considered.
Models which organisations can use on a practical level on a daily basis need also to be developed, e.g. a multi-disciplinary research project aimed at developing new initiatives for bus drivers in Copenhagen has been launched in 1999. It will run over a period of four years.
The NCO participated in the collection of Models of Good Practices and is actively involved in the SME project as a member of the advisory committee. The project
“HealthyBus” was presented at the 8th Network meeting in Helsinki.
During 1999 the Danish NCO gave talks on WHP at workplaces, to OHS, to unions and researchers and made contact with selected local workplace authorities.
Presentations were made for central health and workplace authorities and interviews were given to the press as part of the Danish public relation activities.
The NCO participated in a contact meeting with the Healthy City Network
“Megapoles” and is looking forward to co-operate with them.
New trends/future issues
The labour market is undergoing rapid change. A closer look at how these changes can influence efforts to improve health has to be taken. Unemployment, working from home, flexible working hours and the prevailing conditions in small businesses need special attention. We have to look, in particular, at finding answers to the problems faced by the main target group - the unskilled workforce employed largely in the retail, transport and service sectors. These sectors face tough competition in terms of efficiency and the minimum wage and as a consequence employee health tends to suffer.
3.3.4 Finland
Contact: Juha Liira / Liisa Jouttimaki
E-Mail: juha.liira@occuphealth.fi / Liisa.Jouttimaki@occuphealth.fi
National situation
According to a national barometer, the Finnish concept of MWA (maintenance of work ability) and Workplace Health Promotion is well known in all workplaces. From a
telephone interview survey, it was established that about 90% of respondent workplaces were aware of the concept. The exception was the in micro - enterprises (less than 10 employees) where only about 50% knew or had heard of the MWA concept.
About 80% of the management believed that investment to MWA is profitable and they were also willing to continue and increase investment to MWA.
New regulations /practices
In the public sector (governmental organisations and communities) yearly reporting of human resource ‘balance sheets’ (staff number, age distribution, competence, organisational climate, turn-over, sickness absence, disabilities to work) was recommended and according to a survey in state offices, about 30% of the organisations had introduced their own methods to monitor human resources.
Important activities in 1999 / specific issues
A new government was appointed in Spring 1999 and a special strategy was formulated to be included in their programme, to extend the working years of the ageing workforce. A yearly resource of 10 million FMK was allocated for the research and development programme. The rehabilitation of those who were at risk of disability in work was also targeted in the government programme.
The National Age Programme (1998 - 2002) was continued with an information campaign to resist age discrimination in the workplace.
Partnerships
The interested ministries joined in organising the National Age Programme (Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and Ministry of Education). In the implementation of European Social Fund national programme a special target of
‘maintaining work ability’ was implemented in the programme period 1995 - 1999 (Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Social Affairs and Health).
The new Well-being at Work - program (2000 - 2003) was introduced by the initiative of the government and with collaboration between ministries and labour parties.
Training courses / seminars
The National Age Program (1998 - 2002) launched a new training program for the 'Age Management' directed to top management representatives in enterprises. The program and its material is based on the collaboration of Finish Institute of Occupational Health and several leading management training institutes in Finland.
The impact of Luxembourg Declaration
Luxembourg Declaration has been introduced by national network and its principles has been incorporated in the Finnish model of Maintaining of Work Ability. The newest vehicle for campaigning workplace health promotion was 'Workplace Health Promotion STEPS', a booklet to be distributed to every workplace.
Public relations a) Publications
The Maintenance of Work Ability (Workplace Health Promotion) Barometer - a national survey of health promotion activities in more than 800 workplaces was published.
A booklet called Workplace Health Promotion STEPS was published with sponsorship of National Age Programme. The booklet contains the main principles of participatory planning and organisation and multi-professional implementation of workplace health promotion. A total of 100 000 copies of the booklet have been distributed.
A guideline for promotion, prevention and evaluation of work ability in occupational health services was published with the support of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The guideline was distributed to every occupational health service unit in Finland.
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health published a book ‘Ageing workers in the European Union' edited by professor Juhani Ilmarinen, in which the issue of ageing, employment and employability in European countries is compared.
b) Conferences
The 4th European Conference of International Union of Health Promotion and Health Education was arranged in Helsinki and Tallinn on 16 - 19 May 1999, under the title 'Effectiveness and quality of health promotion'.
An International Symposium on Occupational Health for European was arranged on 3 - 5 November in Helsinki, organised by Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.
The 8th Network meeting was also organised and took place in Helsinki, December 10th to 12th 1999
c) Campaigns via other media
The National Age Programme campaigned for a positive attitude towards ageing employees. The campaign was covered quite well on television.
d) Internet
The national Workplace Health Promotion network offered links to other sources of information including the European Network for Workplace Health Promotion.
Future plans / objectives
Activity on the National Age Programme and Well-being at Work Programme will continue in 2000. An evaluation of workplace health promotion activities will be organised, on European Social Funding programmes from 1995-1999. A co- operational research programme of ‘Effectiveness of Health Promotion’ will be planned, with support from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
3.3.5 Germany
Contact: Gregor Breucker / Karin Kunkel E-Mail: eiz.@bkk.bv
National situation
The change of government in autumn 1998 has led to new discussions on the German health system. Health promotion is again to be included in the catalogue of services to be provided by the health insurance companies. They will however, be required to meet specific quality standards and evaluate the financed measures. The
quality standards are currently under discussion in Germany. This development will strengthen the future role of the health insurance companies. The NCO is hopeful that this will have a positive influence on WHP in Germany.
The good co-operation between health insurance, accident insurance companies and the institutions of the OSH continued in 1999. The continual increase in requests for material published by the NCO reflects the growing interest of companies and public administration in workplace health promotion.
1. National activities
The NCO receives about 120 enquiries a months on WHP issues. More than 40 % by e-mail over the BKK homepage in the Internet. The homepage is regularly up-dated in German and English.
Several articles were published in journals and press releases on different topics of WHP.
The informal national network includes about 100 contacts responsible for the further dissemination of information, and 375 persons who are regularly informed about the networks activities. Politicians and some important stakeholders were added to the mailing list in 1999. About 50 persons have applied to be included on this list.
The national information day will be held in June 2000 and about 120 people have been invited. More than 60 have registered up to now.
The impact of the Luxembourg Declaration
A German network of healthy enterprises has been set up based on the Luxembourg Declaration. The first official meeting took place at the end of 1999 and eight enterprises are now official members.
Conferences/seminars
A conference “ Competitive advantage by health – quality and efficiency of workplace health policy” was held on 2nd - 3rd December 1999 in which about 120 stakeholders participated. The focus was mainly on Quality assurance in WHP and again on Models of good practice. The concept of WHP and the ENWHP were promoted by the NCO during various conferences and seminars.
Publications
Many articles were published in national and international journals and several books published in 1999, including NEWS “Gesundheitsförderung im Betrieb”. About 5000 copies were printed and informs practitioners and mulitipliers about the current situation of WHP in Germany.
2. International Activities
The first joint project “Success Factors and Quality of Workplace Health Promotion”
was successfully concluded at a conference in Bonn. The 7th Network meeting was also organised by the NCO in May 1999. A final report has been published.
The German Contact Office and the National School of Public Health/New University Lisbon, Portugal are co-operating on the second joint ENWHP project, “Workplace Health Promotion in Small and medium Sized Enterprises”. An interim report has already been sent to the European Commission.
Representatives of the NCO participated in various international conferences and seminars and a number of reports, focusing mainly on Quality assurance and Success factors in WHP were published were published in journals and in the WHP- NET-NEWS.
3.3.6 Great Britain
Contact: Brenda Stephens
E-mail: Brenda.Stephens@wales.gsi.gov.uk
1999 has seen the devolution of political power to the four separate regions of the UK. Scotland and Wales launched their Regional Assemblies in April and Northern Ireland followed in November.
All parts of the UK have issued public health strategies which recognise the importance of the workplace as a setting for health promotion.
There has been a major review of the working of the Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act, which has led to the development of a new strategy for revitalising the health and welfare elements of the legislation.
Following from this, a new 10 year Occupational Health Strategy for Great Britain has been developed by the Health and Safety Executive. This calls for occupational health services to be pro-active and to include health protection and health promotion activity.
The delivery of these strategies is predicated on the formation of active partnerships and collaborative working, particularly within Government and between Government Departments at national, regional and local level. During 1999 there has been a growing emphasis on interdepartmental and interagency collaboration at National and Regional level. Also engagement with social partners such as the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has been further developed.
Activities and public relations
The 3 major workplace health promotion campaigns viz. the Health at Work Award (England), Scotland’s Health at Work Award Scheme, the Corporate Health Standard (Wales) have continued to increase the number of workplaces addressing workplace health issues and the quality of activity undertaken.
In October the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) launched the fourth and final phase of its long running Good Health is Good Business campaign which aims to stop people being made ill by their work.
The first part of the Back in Work initiative was launched. It offered grants of up to
£50,000 for organisations to address back pain in the workplace, and 44 proposals were short-listed for funding.
The Healthy Hearts workplace health promotion research project with 40 SMEs in a deprived area of South Wales is now progressing. It will conclude in June 2001.
The UK was well represented at the Bonn Workplace Health Conference.
Presentations were given by delegates from Bridgend County Council and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, both of these organisations having been cited as Models of Good Practice for workplace health promotion.
The UK National Contact office co-ordinated the development of the Models Of Good Practice Project for the UK, and was represented at both the Bonn and Helsinki Business Meetings.
Future plans
The National Contact office will co-ordinate the involvement of the UK in the ENWHP’s two year SME Project.
The Corporate Health Standard – the quality mark for workplace health promotion in Wales is to be up-dated and re-developed
The launch of the new Occupational Health Strategy for Great Britain, scheduled for May 2000 will provide a further support for the introduction of pro-active workplace health initiatives.
The National Contact Office is to be represented on the UK Project team for European Health and Safety Week in October 2000. The Project Team is led by the Health and Safety Executive.
3.3.7 Greece
Contact: Elisabeth Galanopoulou E-mail: healthpr@compulink.gr
The Greek governmental policy places great emphasis on public health and occupational health and safety issues. Assistance is provided to SME´s to improve both the working organisation and conditions and also the unemployment rate.
Special training and education programmes are provided for the unemployed.
In accordance with the Presidential Decrees 17/96 and 159/99, enterprises are obliged to engage an occupational physician and a safety engineer or to collaborate with external services for prevention and protection on issues of health and safety (Presidential Decree 95/99), to promote the health of workers. Many enterprises are certified under the ISO 9001-9002 and the ISO 14000 (regarding environment), a fact that comprises a significant tool for WHP.
WHP in general is based on the Luxembourg Declaration and has been adopted by a large number of enterprises.
The existence of the national network has led to good functional co-operation between the various agencies and organisations associated with health and safety at the workplace, such as:
• the Tripartite Committee (consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Labour
& Social Affairs, the Association of Greek Industries and the General Confederation of Greek Workers)
• the Scientific Committee (consisting of representatives from Athens University, the Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine and the Institute of Health, Safety and Working Conditions) in order to organise and develop Workplace Health Promotion in Greece.
• Managers, occupational doctors, safety engineers and all other interested parties
The dissemination of information is based on:
(a) personal, written and telephone communication;
(b) web site on the internet, which is continuously updated with new data, in Greek and English;
(c) the presentation of the activities of the European and the National WHP Network through newspapers, magazines, etc.
(d) the translation into Greek and the distribution of material from the Liaison Office such as the Luxembourg Declaration and the Cardiff Memorandum
(e) the printing of information leaflets and posters about WHP.
(f) the presentation of the Centre in all the important conferences, concerning health and safety in the workplace, in Greece.
During the conference held in Athens by the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine concerning Health and Environment, the Centre presented the European and the National information network and the activities of the National Contact Office.
Future aims
1. Priority will be given to organise an information day (the third), concentrating on workplace health promotion in small and medium-sized enterprises.
2. Informative leaflets will be prepared concerning prevention measures and medical supervision, related to the exposure of certain chemical substances.
3. Visiting and recording enterprises that employ less than 50 employees, in order to be informed and certified under the ISO 9001 – 9002.
4. Preparation of a questionnaire that will record the level of comprehension and integration of the Luxembourg Declaration in all organisations, employer’s and employee’s unions and managers of all enterprises.
5. Comparing the existing situation in Greece with the situation a few years ago, very important steps for the achievement of the expected results of the WHP – Network had been taken.
3.3.8 Iceland
Contact: Dagrún Thordardottir E-mail: dagrun@ver.is
National situation
The national situation has not changed much over the last year although some new regulations have been set up and it will take some time for the impact to be felt.
The new regulations are:
a) the council directive 94/33EC of 22nd June 1994, on the protection of young people at work which took place on September 1st 1999. About 47% of Icelandic teenagers (17 year old teenagers are the most numerous in the group) work 9 hours a day or more during the summer. A smaller group of Icelandic teenagers also work late in the evenings or during the night, which is against the law. The new regulation will hopefully improve these conditions.
b) the Council directive 91/322/EC and 69/94/EC, Threshold Limit Values
The participation in the project “Success factors and Quality in WHP” and the collection of Models of Good Practice was one of the main items in 1999. The companies participating in this project set up an informal network for WHP, the Luxembourg Declaration providing a new perspective of WHP.
Information/public relations
The representatives of the Icelandic Models of Good Practice were presented in a TV interview, but radio interviews were used as well to raise awareness of WHP.
The most widely read newspaper in Iceland published some articles presenting the Luxembourg Declaration, the goals of the Network and reports on some of the
companies participating in the "Success Factor". The WHP-NET-NEWS and the Luxembourg Declaration were disseminated to several companies in Iceland.
In 1999 an Internet homepage was set up for WHP as part of the homepage of the Administration of Occupational Safety and Health. It was not yet finished at the end of 1999 and still has to be translated into English.
A conference was held by the Icelandic Quality Association – part of the programme included the presentation of WHP and specifically the ENWHP including the projects.
Future plans/objectives
The practice of occupational health services (OHS) in Iceland is still immature and it hampers WHP activities. All the same, the standard of occupational safety and health is assumed to be high in most workplaces. The goal remains, to provoke the interest of employers and employees for both OHS and WHP
3.3.9 Italy
Contact: Sergio Perticaroli / Lamberto Briziarelli
E-Mail: perticaroli.isepsl.doc@infuturo.it / lbrizigi@unipg.it
National Situation
The concept of health promotion has arrived later in Italy than in other European countries and acceptance of it has been problematic. This is because, in Italy, a strong resistance to change is evident. Difficulties have also been experienced in implementing changes to the health service and the welfare policy in recent years.
Acceptance of workplace health promotion has been even slower. The industrial injury rate is still bad, with a huge number of accidents happening each year.
However, ideological and political changes have taken place, and the way in which the health and safety of workers is addressed has altered. The relationship between employers and workers organisations has also improved.
The government's commitment to reducing the high accident rate has accelerated progress. Furthermore, the Health Ministry has officially brought Health Promotion into the Health Policy.
It seems that we are on the right track now. In some of the larger organisations, adopting a quality policy prepares the ground for the introduction of a WHP strategy, as the organisation's overall philosophy embraces the concept of Health Promotion.
Future
The NCO will co-ordinate the sub-project “WHP in Latin and southern European countries” which is to be carried out within the framework of the ENWHP in 2000.
The first step of the project will aim to identify the problems in the implementation of WHP in Latin and Southern European countries which exist mainly because of cultural differences. The second step will be to formulate recommendations to improve WHP in these countries. Countries participating are France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain and some ENWHP partners from the northern European countries will form an advisory committee to provide assistance.
3.3.10 Liechtenstein Contact : Volker Grässle
E-mail: volker.graessle@bluewin.ch
National situation
WHP has become more well-known and accepted over the past few years in Liechtenstein and Switzerland. It is an unfortunate fact that those enterprises thinking exclusively along the lines of shareholder-value have very little interest in WHP. But the awareness of soft factors in a company has revived and WHP can play an important role in creating change.
The main activity in 1999 was the collection of Models of Good Practices, to be selected for the European Conference. Other issues which still need to be discussed in enterprises in Switzerland and Liechtenstein are the content and concepts and the effects of health promoting measures at work.
Information/public relations
“Success Factor Health” was the title of the national information day held on 18th October 1999, which demonstrated that WHP can be a success factor for enterprises. Interest was shown mainly for clearly defined, easy to understand
measures with a good chance of success. A further aspect discussed at the conference was how to gain the interest of SMEs on this issue and how to integrate them in this context.
Future perspectives
A committee was set up to create a national WHP network in Liechtenstein and Switzerland and will be responsible for developing a communication platform.
The Swiss Foundation for Health Promotion (Foundation 19) will also undertake activities in the field of healthy schools, healthy hospitals, physical exercise and nutrition.
3.3.11 Luxembourg
Contact: Paul Weber / Paul Ambrosini E-mail: Paul.Weber@itm.etat.lu
National situation
In Luxembourg 2,5 % of the GNP is due to the costs entailed through unhealthy situations of Occupational Safety and Health. In July and November 1994, the preventive attitude of the employer and new safety actors in the construction industry was introduced. This constitutes the start of the new awareness in the field of Workplace Health Promotion. The National Contact Office published a CD-ROM for OSH co-ordinators in the construction sector, specifically for SME´s which was presented at the 7th network meeting in May 1999.
The NCO installed a tripartite steering committee with the social partners in order to involve all the partners in the development of WHP.
Information/public relations
Four training courses were held together with the Chamber of commerce and the handcraft chamber. In October 1999 the National Contact Office in Luxembourg was introduced during the European week at the Agency in Bilbao.
A press release on Workplace Health Promotion was formulated in the frame of the European week (week43/99) of the European Agency for Safety and Health in
Bilbao. It is available on the Internet (www.itm.etat.lu). The NCO also published a CD- ROM presenting an evaluation scheme for WHP measures.
On the 28 October (also during the EW in 1999), a sensitisation campaign was organised and important stakeholders were invited. This was organised together with the implication of the new Labour Minister who gave his support and also took part in a radio interview. TV spots and PR-Events on Models of good practice, and on muscular-skeletal disorders were given.
Future plans/objectives for 2000
• The NCO is involved in the European Project on WHP in Small and medium sized enterprises and will collect Models of Good Practices in that field.
• Two CD-ROMS will be published: WHP in the financial sector, sick building syndrome and muscular-skeletal diseases (MSD) and the construction industry specifically MSD.
3.3.12 The Netherlands
Contact: Paul Baart / Inge van den Borne E-mail: centrum.@gbw.nl
The Dutch NCO undertook various initiatives in 1999. The third national survey on WHP in the Netherlands was completed. The results demonstrated the need of employers and employees need for WHP (75%). In ARBO services the Centre and its products became quite well known, over 80% of the respondents are familiar with the material and goals.
Important issues
A major issue in 1999 was stress. A conference on stress organised by the Centre, took place on February 4th 1999. This opportunity was also used to reward the four Dutch Models of Good Practice which had been chosen to be presented for the pan- European project “Success Factors and Quality in Workplace health Promotion” with a certificate “Dutch MOGP”. The Dutch Governmental Policy on stress and changes
in the Working Conditions Act and Disablement Insurance Act were presented by the State Secretary Mr. Hoogervorst. Reports on the most recent statistical figures on stress in the Netherlands and on intervention schemes in innovative practices were also drawn up.
Further activities have included the start of a training programme, WHP-Consultant, aiming to train 40 consultants (on behalf of the Ministry of Welfare and Sports) and the introduction of new programmes and materials on dangerous substances on behalf of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Netherlands Cancer Society. Three pilot interventions on the reduction of diesel engine emission in the docking industry started.
The impact of the Luxembourg Declaration
The introduction of the Luxembourg Declaration (LD) was promoted by the identification of the Models of good practice and their reward and participation in the final European Conference held in Bonn. Meanwhile twelve enterprises endorsed the principles of the LD and first steps towards a “Netherlands Network of Health Promoting Enterprises” have been taken.
Information/public relations
The Centre has various publications concerning different items of WHP. Their
“seven-steps” brochures are very good tools for the implementation of health promoting measures into enterprises. In 1999 more than 25.000 general brochures and 50.000 employee brochures were sent by request. The homepage is updated regularly.
Future plans/objectives for 2000
The Centre GBW is preparing future strategies for the continuation of WHP activities.
A merger between the Dutch Centre GBW and the National Institute for Health Promotion and Sickness Prevention is being discussed.
3.3.13 Norway
Contact: Odd Bjørnstad
E-mail: odd.bjornstad@stami.no
National situation
The national situation in Norway has not really changed yet, there are still no regulations or laws concerning WHP in Norway, but health professionals have made many efforts to make significant improvements to the working environment.
Participation and personal factors are more and more integrated into WHP – although this term is still not really accepted.
Major activities
Besides the collection of MOGP, one of the main activities was the organisation of a international course on “Workplace Health Promotion – Healthy People in Healthy Organisations” together with the NIVA (Nordic Institute for Advanced Training in Occupational Health) and the Finnish Institute for Occupational Health. This course was held 29 February – 3 March 2000 in Oslo. Some of the main topics in the course included: need assessment and strategies of WHP and the maintenance of work ability, the role and collaboration of occupational health and safety professionals with management and employees, development and evaluation of models of good practice as well as specific challenges in promoting health at work (small and medium-sized enterprises, ageing, globalisations, downsizing and outsourcing).
The NCO published various articles in professional papers and participated in several meetings and workshops, making contributions on WHP. An internet web-site was developed.
Future plans/objectives for 2000
The issue of WHP will be presented at two major conferences:
- a national conference for physicians in occupational medicine - a national conference for OHS professionals
A course is to be arranged on “Healthy people in healthy organisations”, to be held 29 February – 3 March 2000 in Oslo as mentioned above. The Internet web-site which was mentioned before will be established.
3.3.14 Portugal
Contact: Dr. Emília Natário and Dr. Álvaro Durão ;
E-mail: emilan@dgsaude.min-saude.pt and adurao@dgsaude.min-saude.pt
New regulations/laws
During 1999, the Framework Law on Occupational Health and Safety was revised, representing an important entrance for WHP into public, private and co-operative sectors. The regulation of Occupational Health and Safety for the Public Administration has changed. A new decree law established that all public sectors should create and support the Occupational Health and Safety Services and Activities for Public Servants to come into force on 1st January 2000. The General Directorate of Work Conditions is preparing the text for transpositions of the European Directives related to workers' health – the NCO is involved in this task.
The recent governmental change brought Prof. José Luís Castanheira into power as Director General of Health, who confirmed the designation of Dr. Emília Natário and Dr. Álvaro Durão as contact members and experts of the Portuguese NCO.
Important issues / activities
In 1999 two lines of action were developed by the NCO to achieve the main Network objectives:
1. At European level
The NCO supported the preparation of the new European projects on WHP for 2000:
- WHP in small and medium-sized enterprises - WHP in Latin and southern European countries
The active participation in the European project “Success Factors and Quality of WHP” was a major task in 1999.
2. At national level
The project “Active and Healthy Life at the Workplace” was organised mainly by the NCO, which also participated in training activities on workers' health together with the Regional Health Administrations. It has facilitated the assessment of WHP at the 16 enterprises involved and has offered a sequential process of evaluation. Since it was institutionalised, the group of enterprise experts, the representatives of the General Directorate of Health and the five Regional Health Administrations have had regular contact and participate in the interchange of information. An update picture was achieved, by periodic information sheets, questionnaires, discussions in meetings and interim seminars, as well as by informal contacts. Interim seminars have been set up to guarantee a regular exchange of information. The use of the Internet has been foreseen to facilitate and enlarge the dissemination.
Other activities were the assessment of WHP in Portuguese enterprises, to identify models and needs in order to reinforce their programmes and advice was offered to the regional Health administrations and enterprises to improve ability, participation and practices on WHP.
Information/public relations
As well as producing the usual publications, the NCO also participated in the V Forum on Occupational health held in Lisbon November 10-12 1999. The third National Meeting on Workplace Health Promotion which is to be held in 2000 was planned.
Future perspectives
The active participation in the SME project is foreseen and will be closely linked to national activities. The Portuguese NCO will also be actively involved in planning and organising the 9th Network meeting which will be held in Lisbon on June 16th – 18th 2000.
3.3.15 Spain
Contact: Maria Dolores Solé E-Mail: DoloresS@mtas.es
Meetings/conferences and seminars
The NCO was participated in the 7th network meeting as well as the European conference “Healthy employees in healthy organisations”
(May/June 1999) in Bonn and in the 8th network meeting hold in Helsinki in December 1999.
WHP-NET-NEWS/Internet
The NCO wrote and sent the article “Training occupational health and safety matters in temporary employment agencies: two models of good practice”.
A draft for a modification of our WHP-web in the web of INSHT was produced.
Copies of each WHP-Net-News are sent to a list of around 50 WHP experts and organisms, and some copies were distributed in INSHT library and other libraries.
The results of Bonn conference have been disseminated by the Institutes journals, courses and ordinary mail to key and interested people.
Other activities
We continuously offer the network for sharing and looking for information about WHP in our publications, course. Therefore, we’ve received some demands which were transposed to other NCO’s by e-mail.
We are requested, as INDSHT but also as NCO of WHP-Network, to enter as collaborator in another EU-project about WHP: “Prevention of cancer in the workplace: study of feasibility ” (PREWORK).
We began a collaboration with the Department of psychology (Unit of methodology of behavioural sciences) of the Autonomous Barcelona University in order to develop documents and strategies about the design of preventive information and its impact in the results of WHP.
We enhanced the number of receivers of Net-News from 50 to 125.
We developed training material for a course of “Marketing” for Workplace Health Promotion and fixed the date of the course for September 2000. This course is also designed to be introduced in Internet.
3.3.16 Sweden
Contact: Ewa Menckel E-mail: ewa.menckel@niwl.se
One of the main activities of the Swedish NCO was the involvement in the European project “Success Factors and Quality of WHP”, identifying Models of Good Practice and participating in the final conference “Healthy Employees in Healthy Organisations” held in Bonn, June 1999. This included the evaluation of questionnaires as well as site visits and producing the final report. On national level, a conference on WHP was held on August 23, 1999 at the National Institute for Working Life in Stockholm. On this occasion the four companies chosen as 'Models of Good Practice' presented their health promotion strategies. Around 50 key people, including media representatives, attended the conference at the new Institute library.
Also invited were the head of the Unit for Small-Scale Enterprises at the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine in Örebro and the managers of the project ”Health, Working Life, Women’s Lives” at the National Institute of Public Health, who are also interested in workplace health promotion.
The objective of the conference was to raise the profile of WHP and to generate more interest. It also provided an opportunity to show what is presently being done in different organisations, and to give examples of how health-promoting work can be organised. In closing, the newly appointed director-general of NIWL, Inger Olsson, gave her comments on this issue and the work being done.
Future
The NCO is participating in the second joint project of the ENWHP “Workplace Health Promotion in Small and medium-sized Enterprises” co-ordinated by the Portuguese experts.
A national conference was held on 21st January, 2000. The Swedish network plans to
produce a report focusing on three areas: management, resources and personal power, the three fundamentals for implementing health promotion processes at the workplace. The working title of the report is ”To create health promoting processes at work – management, resources and personal power”. It will be distributed to the 360 people who attended the national conference and to other interested parties in Sweden.
Another forthcoming activity will be a workshop on WHP to be held in Brussels in September 2000. The workshop is one of several to be held in preparation for the
”Worklife 2000” conference to take place in January 2001. The workshop will be organised by the Liaison Office for the EU WHP Network (The Federal Institute for Occupational Health & Safety in Dortmund, Germany; Professor Karl Kuhn). The title will be: ”Gender aspects in WHP: a EU perspective”. An abstract has been sent to the 26th International Congress on Occupational Health in Singapore August 2000 with the title: ”Gender approaches in the EU Workplace Health Promotion Network”.
5. Summary
1999 was an important year in the history of the ENWHP. Somehow for many National Contact Offices it was a kind of coming-out which was initiated by the participation in the European Conference hold in Bonn. This was an important step in placing WHP on national and European agendas.
The Amsterdam treaty considering health promoting measures more than it has been done in the past, brought the need of the ENWHP to a kind of re-thinking about its future. This fruitful discussion has been fixed in the Position Paper in June 1999.
An agreement has been developed and signed by nearly every member of the network defining the role and responsibility of both the Liaison Office and the NCOs.
The following activities have helped to achieve positive results.
- Organisation of and participation in conferences (7th and 8th network meeting, various presentations of the ENWHP at national and international conferences) - Presentation of the ENWHP (articles in journals and newsletters, Internet) - Publication of the WHP-NET-NEWS
