June 4, 2015

Dr. Glenn Pransky, Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, U.S.A., delivered a speech on the title of ‘Preventing Work Diability ? Challenges for an Aging Workforce.’ Dr. Glenn contends that the significant aging of workforces globally present two core challenges to many societies, namely: how to keep older workers healthy and productive on the job longer, and how to accommodate aging workers who return to their jobs after injury or illness.

Potential strategies for the first include worksite wellness and disease management programs specially designed for older workers, and healthier work environments that keep older workers healthy and productive on the job longer. Peer support, acceptance of slower recovery times, and workplace accommodations have been cited as particularly important for older workers seeking to return to work after injury or illness.

Prof. Stavroula, Leka, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, delivered a speech at a plenary session titled on ‘Is Psychosocial Risk Prevention Possible? Deconstructing the Current State of the Art.

Psychosocial risks are aspects of work organization, design, and management that have the potential to cause harm to employee health, safety, and well-being and hurt organizational performance.

They include issues such as work demands, support at work, employee participation, rewards, and interpersonal relationships in the workplace. As globalization and technological change make these risk more common, Prof. Stavroula addresses the potential for prevention. She considers both the impact of psychosocial risks on workers’ physical and mental health, and efforts to address such risks around the world, noting differences among countries, successes, and good practices.