Periodic Reporting for period 1 - INTERCAMBIO (Interventions to promote mental and physical health in changing working environments due to climate change, sustainable work practices, and in green jobs)
Berichtszeitraum: 2024-01-01 bis 2025-06-30
Work environments are rapidly changing in Europe. There is also increasing awareness of the importance of mental and physical health of workers and fundamental interconnections of work, health and well-being. Climate change is further shaping the future of work. European economies are undergoing transformation and reorientation towards sustainability. The European Green Deal is reforming the workplace through implementation of new sustainable work practices and policies, circular economy solutions, and rapid expansion of work in green jobs, resulting in novel workplace exposures. There have been calls towards inclusive green economies ensuring social protection, and the creation of decent green jobs. The overall objective of INTERCAMBIO is to promote mental and physical health of workers in changing work environments due to climate change, implementation of new working practices, and among workers in green jobs. We will conduct detailed evaluation of interventions in strategic industries in Europe relevant to green and digital transitions, including in outdoor construction, health care, public transit, renewable energy (wind turbine), and waste management/recycling using a variety of multidisciplinary and state-of-the-art research methods. We will leverage large, geographically diverse longitudinal cohort consortia for new climate-related studies, promote a framework for social protection, and engage multi-level stakeholders. Findings will provide support for new policy action in occupational health.
Intervention studies in five strategic industries, have finalised detailed study initiation packages, clinical trials registrations, communication materials, ethical approvals for qualitative and quantitative research, obtained informed consent and begun worker recruitment. In outdoor construction, companies have been recruited, co-creation sessions conducted, and pre-intervention fieldwork started. In health care, a model was developed to conceptualize the impact of sustainable work practices on working conditions and health and wellbeing. Recruitment of health care departments is ongoing, and data collection from individual workers begun. In public transit, the (natural) experimental phase was launched with approximately half of the planned number of participants recruited to date. In renewable energy (wind turbine), contact was established with participating companies and site visits held. Detailed work is characterising baseline working conditions, and integrating ultraviolet lighting systems into processes. In waste management/recycling, detailed baseline data has been captured, harmonised, laboratory and statistical analyses are ongoing, and subsequent follow-up and intervention phases prepared. Harmonisation of protocols for co-creation procedures, and common exposures and mental and physical health outcome data were prepared. A related systematic living review of interventions is published on the project website.
Standard operating procedures were developed for internal and external data collection for several Tasks including for measurements of temperature, humidity, solar UV radiation, and physical activity. A framework for developing new job-exposure matrices (JEMs) for occupational heat, cold, and solar UV has been established. A detailed protocol was developed for a biomarker-based study. A consortium of occupational cohort studies to evaluate long-term health effects of occupational heat, cold, and solar UV radiation exposure is established.
Survey questions and a guideline for qualitative interviews have been finalized on green transition, organizational change, and work environment norms. Preparations for interviews are underway with intervention studies (above). The methodology for comparative legal and policy analysis is established to examine how regulations and norms affect implementation of workplace interventions. We engaged stakeholders by performing a multi-level mapping. We launched a short stakeholder survey inviting over 400 participants.
Standard operating procedures were developed for internal and external data collection for several Tasks including for measurements of temperature, humidity, solar UV radiation, and physical activity. A framework for developing new job-exposure matrices (JEMs) for occupational heat, cold, and solar UV has been established. A detailed protocol was developed for a biomarker-based study. A consortium of occupational cohort studies to evaluate long-term health effects of occupational heat, cold, and solar UV radiation exposure is established.
Survey questions and a guideline for qualitative interviews have been finalized on green transition, organizational change, and work environment norms. Preparations for interviews are underway with intervention studies (above). The methodology for comparative legal and policy analysis is established to examine how regulations and norms affect implementation of workplace interventions. We engaged stakeholders by performing a multi-level mapping. We launched a short stakeholder survey inviting over 400 participants.
Expected results in outdoor construction are to demonstrate the impact of a multi-faceted intervention regarding heat exposure on health, with impacts on working practices and policy. In health care, expected results are to demonstrate the impact of sustainable work practices on the working conditions and health of healthcare workers, and to identify the barriers and facilitators to their implementation. In public transit, the effect of eco-driving assistance (EDA) on bus drivers’ well-being will be assessed and inform safe EDA implementation in sustainable public transport. In renewable energy (wind turbine), one unexpected result is a wider realisation of heat stress attributable to use of encapsulating personal protective equipment (PPE). In waste management/recycling, findings have already, through baseline studies, identified major occupational risks.
Development of three new JEMs will support ongoing and future research. JEMs will enable assessments of numbers of exposed workers across Europe. Study protocols contribute to uptake of harmonised methods. Longitudinal cohort studies will provide novel findings of associations of long-term health effects of occupational heat, cold, and solar UV radiation. A long-term consortium of cohort studies is foreseen. Findings from studies of short-term exposure will provide novel mechanistic insights into physiological response.
The framework for social protection is expected to inform a safer green transition. Findings from stakeholder consultation will provide critical insights regarding elements to include in a new health research agenda.
Development of three new JEMs will support ongoing and future research. JEMs will enable assessments of numbers of exposed workers across Europe. Study protocols contribute to uptake of harmonised methods. Longitudinal cohort studies will provide novel findings of associations of long-term health effects of occupational heat, cold, and solar UV radiation. A long-term consortium of cohort studies is foreseen. Findings from studies of short-term exposure will provide novel mechanistic insights into physiological response.
The framework for social protection is expected to inform a safer green transition. Findings from stakeholder consultation will provide critical insights regarding elements to include in a new health research agenda.