For a Healthier World of Work

The European Network for Workplace Health Promotion

Along with the worldwide dismantling of trade barriers and the rapid introduction of new information technologies, the general conditions for business success, affluence and social security have changed dramatically in all countries. Tougher competition for enterprises, on the one hand, and stagnating economic growth on the other, characterise the economic and social situation in many other parts of the world.

Sustainable, profitable growth in the expanding service-producing and knowledge-based societies requires innovative business strategies which can combine high technological competence with a maximum degree of customer orientation. There is increasing evidence that a rise in company value alone cannot guarantee a stable foundation for long-term business success. Massive changes can only be achieved by providing working conditions which permit and promote the workers' involvement and responsibility. Continuous maintenance of professional competence and skills, and life-long learning will have an impact on how easy or difficult it will be for people to get new jobs. Furthermore, companies can, to a great extent, help to overcome the consequences of the ongoing demographic change. Company programmes supporting active ageing help create an environment in which employees do not have to withdraw from work too early. Active ageing at work cannot be attained without healthy working conditions based on partnership throughout the worker's entire career. Workplace health promotion (WHP) can make a significant contribution.

Workplace Health Promotion: Healthy Employees in Healthy Organisations

WHP is a modern corporate strategy which aims to prevent ill health at work, to enhance health potential, and to improve well-being at work. It is based on voluntary action and consensus building among all stakeholders. It complements traditional occupational safety and health by promoting the employees' health, and involving human resource development as well as overall organisational development.

The Luxembourg Declaration presented by the European Network for Workplace Health Promotion in 1997 succeeded for the first time in achieving common understanding of WHP throughout Europe. According to the Declaration, WHP comprises "all joint action of employers, employees and society to improve health and well-being at the workplace. This may be achieved through a combination of approaches: improving the work organisation and work environment, promoting active employee participation, strengthening personal development."

This new understanding encompasses both physical and mental well-being, the quality of life, and learning. Health is no longer a result but rather a process in which people, with their potential and ability to develop, are viewed as entities, and are no longer regarded merely as passive objects to be protected against illnesses and accidents.

The areas of activity in WHP consist of life-style, ageing, corporate culture including leadership skills, staff development, a balance between work and other spheres of life, well-being, nutrition and health.

The European Network for Workplace Health Promotion (ENWHP)

"Healthy Employees in Healthy Organisations" has been the vision of the ENWHP (www.enwhp.org) since it was established in 1996. In order to realize this vision, the ENWHP is committed to developing and supporting "good practice" for workplace health, which in turn contributes to a higher level of health protection and ensures sustainable social and economic growth in Europe. The network is comprised of national occupational health and safety institutes, public health institutions and ministries of health and labour from all the Member States of the European Community, the countries in the European Economic Area, candidate countries, and Switzerland. The Network is co-ordinated in Germany by the Federal Association of Company Health Insurance Funds (BKK Bundesverband).

Since its establishment, the Network has grown steadily. The ENWHP now has 31 members from national safety and health organisations and public health organisations from the EU Member States, accession countries, Switzerland and countries of the European Economic Area. During these past years, the network has managed to make some substainable progress. It has successfully formulated a general definition of WHP in Europe for the first time, developed standarised criteria for good quality WHP, and published reports on models of good practice form a wide variety of industrial sectors. ENWHP has developed a European toolbox of successful practices and identified strategies that keep employees longer at work. In disseminating "good practice" the network has already made a considerable contribution towards better health, and the national forums, which the network has established in recent years, allow an even wider spread of WHP at country level.

ENWHP initiatives (1997 – 2006)

• 1st joint initiative: "Quality Criteria and Success Factors of Workplace Health Promotion"
• 2nd joint initiative: "Workplace Health Promotion in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises"
• 3rd initiative: "Workplace Health Promotion in Public Administration"
• 4th joint initiative: "Implementing infrastructures to promote workplace health"
• 5th joint initiative: "Workplace Health Promotion in the Ageing Workforce"
• 6th initiative projects "Dragon Fly", "Workhealth II" and the Finnish Initiative "Workplace Health Promotion in an Enlarging Europe"

The ENWHP will begin its 7th initiative entitled "MoveEurope".

MoveEurope – Campaigning for Improved Life-style-related Workplace Health

In this initiative, the European Network will carry out a campaign to promote a healthy life-style at work. The project will focus on physical exercise, nutrition, mental health, and supporting people to quit smoking. The campaign is planned to last three years (2006 – 2008) and is targeted at interested companies and organisations, external experts in the fields of occupational safety and health and public health, as well as other national and European organisations and stakeholders.

MoveEurope will be subsidized by the European Commission, DG Sanco within the framework of the Public Health Programme. The project received the highest assessment rating in the final round of the application process, and it will be organised on behalf of the Network by a consortium of national contact offices from six countries (Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Germany and Romania). The Italian Network partners (Istituto Superiore per la Prevenzione e la Sicurezza del Lavoro, ISPESL / University of Perguia) are the main contract partners to the European Commission, and the group is supported by the Network secretariat based at the BKK Bundesverband (Germany).

28 members of the European Network will take part in the project (23 Member States, candidate countries Romania and Bulgaria, and two countries from the European Economic Area, Norway and Iceland, as well as Switzerland).

The highlight of the European campaign will be the 7th European Network Conference organised by the Network, and will take place in Rome at the end of 2008. Exemplary models of good practice will be presented and awarded at the Conference.

MoveEurope (2006–2008) steps:

- At the European level, the campaign will be launched officially at the 5th European Conference of the ENWHP which is held in co-operation with the European Commission / DG Sanco, in Linz, Austria, on 19 – 20 June 2006.

- Interested companies/organisations will then be invited to participate in an Internet-based self assessment in the specified areas of WHP. Together with a statement to support the aims of the campaign and the Network vision according to the Luxembourg Declaration, the conditions will be fulfilled for active participation as a MoveEurope company/organisation.

- Based on the quality criteria and company visits, the next step will be to identify exemplary models of good practice in the MoveEurope companies/organisations.

- National events; a final European conference and other public relations activities shall be organised to support the exchange of experiences and to advertise the campaign.

Future ENWHP Events