New Avenues for Prevention of Work-Related Diseases Linked to Psychosocial Risks.

Michel P Guillemin

doi:10.3390/ijerph182111354

Abstract

The epidemic of psychosocial risks continues to increase and the COVID-19 pandemic has even worsened this threat on workers’ health. This inexorable and evidence-based rise seems to be impervious to the preventive strategies proposed for more than 40 years. Hypotheses are proposed to explain this serious problem that drastically impacts public health and the economy. The objectives of this paper are to present, in this broad context of societal and cultural changes, how the present shift in management paradigms may represent opportunities to reduce work-related diseases. In the first part of this paper, we will summarize the situation on three main issues and their relation with psychosocial risks: (1) evolution of the occupational safety and health field, (2) change in the nature of work, and (3) emerging models of governance. In the second part, we will describe, through a few examples (among many others), how emerging models of corporate governance may reduce and prevent stress and burnout. Work is changing fundamentally, and this impacts workers’ (and managers’) health and well-being; that is why approaches in line with these changes are necessary. The COVID-19 pandemic has produced major changes in work organization. This may offer promising opportunities to reanalyze working conditions for a better control of occupational diseases and stress with all the benefits these improvements will bring for society and for individuals.

Highlights

Psychosocial risks (PSRs) have been studied for more than 50 years, and they are still uncontrolled at a global national or international level, as shown by relevant surveys [1,2,3].Even if there are a few examples of success in reducing this risk in some companies [4], the global situation is still worsening, and the COVID-19 pandemic has even intensified this problem [5].Solutions and strategies to prevent or reduce these risks have been proposed but appear to have been used in very limited specific situations and not accepted as a basic policy by decision-makers
There is a lack of awareness among decision-makers due to the fact that occupational safety and health (OSH) issues are not included in their priorities [1,6] and that OSH
This paper does not claim to be a thorough investigation on the ways new governance models impact positively on the prevention of PSRs and other occupational risks, but it brings relevant elements that show these new management strategies offer real opportunities to improve working conditions and workers’ health and wellbeing

Summary

Introduction

Solutions and strategies to prevent or reduce these risks have been proposed but appear to have been used in very limited specific situations and not accepted as a basic policy by decision-makers. There is a lack of awareness among decision-makers due to the fact that occupational safety and health (OSH) issues are not included in their priorities [1,6] and that OSH professionals have not found the appropriate way to inform and sensitize them; The solutions and strategies proposed up to now may be not convincing enough, being based on traditional approaches that are less and less efficient and not appropriate anymore in the new context of work [7]. The experts remain usually in their own silo with more confidence in their peers than in other professionals [8]

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Conclusion