The International Symposium on Occupational Safety and Hygiene, which took place this month in Porto, was the stage chosen for the launch of WISEWORK-C, a European cluster of five projects dedicated to innovation in the workplace, with a focus on promoting physical and mental health, and with the participation of the NOVA National School of Public Health (NOVA NSPH).
The INTERCAMBIO project, which has NOVA NSPH as a partner, is part of WISEWORK-C and Susana Viegas, professor at NOVA NSPH and responsible for the project in Portugal, attended the cluster meeting where she had the opportunity to present the project and meet the partners of the other projects that are part of the cluster.
INTERCAMBIO is a multi-national research project funded by the European Union and which includes a consortium of 13 partners from 8 different countries. Its main aim is to promote the mental and physical health of workers in an environment that is constantly changing as a result of climate change and the implementation of new working practices, particularly in so-called ‘green jobs’.
“Climate change has accelerated a number of complex trends in the workplace and has given these issues a new centrality, and there is now a need to raise awareness of the importance of workers’ mental and physical health and the fundamental interconnections between work, health and well-being. By bringing together five projects, this cluster allows for greater sharing of evidence and the creation of synergies that benefit everyone involved”, emphasises Susana Viegas, professor at NOVA NSPH.
“The evidence that academia can provide, particularly with projects like INTERCAMBIO, is essential if we are to be able to build innovative public policies that encourage health promotion in all environments, particularly in workplaces. NOVA NSPH has played a very important role in creating evidence and sharing information and good practices in terms of occupational and environmental health, preparing leaders and professionals in general for the challenges of the future, always working closely with communities”, emphasised NOVA NSPH’s director, Sónia Dias.
Climate change is further shaping the future of work on an unprecedented scale and European economies are undergoing a transformation and reorientation towards sustainability, with the project aiming to respond to these challenges. The European Green Deal has been promoting new sustainable work practices and policies, solutions that favour the circular economy, which has meant a rapid expansion of ‘green jobs’, resulting in new risk factors in the workplace, with different exposure patterns and potential effects on workers’ health.
Keep up to date with WISEWORK-C initiatives on the cluster’s website and find out more about INTERCAMBIO on the project page.