Report - Expert forecast on emerging psychosocial risks related to occupational safety and health (OSH)

Chapters in this Publication

Foreword

Significant changes which are taking place in the world of work lead to emerging psychosocial risks. Such risks, which are linked to the way work is designed, organised and managed, as well as to the economic and social context of work, result in an increased level of stress and can lead to serious deterioration of mental and physical health. In 2005, more than 20% of workers from the EU believed that their health is at risk because of work-related stress. The report presents the results of the expert forecast on emerging psychosocial risks, supplemented by an analysis of the scientific research on key topics identified by the experts. Read more...

Executive summary

The expert forecast on emerging psychosocial risks was carried out by means of the Delphi method. The main emerging psychosocial risks revealed were related to new forms of employment contracts and job insecurity, the OSH risks for the ageing workforce, work intensification - high workload and work pressure, high emotional demands at work - including violence and bullying, and poor work-life balance. Literature reviews were used to explore these risks in terms of prevalence, health and safety outcomes, possible preventive measures and need for future research. Read more...

Chapter 01 - Introduction

The definition of emerging risks, as well as the current trends in the world of work which lead to emerging psychosocial risks, are presented in this chapter. Read more...

Chapter 02 - Methodology

This chapter describes the three surveys rounds implemented within the forecast, as well as the expert’s participated in the study. The reliability of the results and limitations of the methodology are also discussed. Read more...

Chapter 03 - Main emerging risks identified in the survey

This chapter presents the main emerging psychosocial risks identified in the forecast. Both the quantitative results of the survey (the mean values and standard deviations) as well as the experts’ comments on the emerging risks are presented. Read more...

Chapter 04 - Literature reviews

Literature reviews explore the main emerging psychosocial risks identified by the experts in terms of prevalence, health and safety outcomes, possible preventive measures and need for future research. Read more...

Chapter 04.1 - New forms of employment contracts: precarious work

The use of more precarious employment contracts, together with the trend towards lean production (producing good and services with less waste) and outsourcing (using outside organisations to carry out work), can affect workers’ health and safety. Workers on precarious contracts tend to carry out the most hazardous jobs, work in poorer conditions and receive less OSH training. Read more...

Chapter 04.2 - Irregular, flexible workingtime

Flexible workingtime arrangements are seen as some of the most important elements in the reorganisation of work. Uncertain casual work, high workloads and variable or unpredictable working hours, especially when there is no possibility for the employee to adjust them to their personal needs, can lead to a conflict between the demands of work and private life. Read more...

Chapter 04.3 - Job insecurity

Working in unstable labour markets can give rise to feelings of job insecurity, which can be related to an overall concern about the continued existence of the job in the future, and also, as a perceived threat to various job features such as position within an organisation or career opportunities. Research shows that job insecurity increases work-related stress and may lead to poorer mental and physical health. Read more...

Chapter 04.4 - Work intensification

Many workers are handling growing amounts of information, having to cope with higher workloads and greater pressure at work. Some workers, particularly those employed in new forms of employment or highly competitive fields may fear having their efficiency and output assessed more closely, and hence tend to work longer hours to finish tasks, without proper compensation and social support. Read more...

Chapter 04.5 - Ageing workers

Older workers are more vulnerable to the hazards resulting from poor working conditions than younger employees. The failure to provide ageing workers with life-long learning opportunities additionally increases the mental and emotional demands made upon them. This may affect their health and increase the chance of work-related accidents. Read more...

Chapter 04.6 - Violence and bullying

The problem of workplace violence has created special interest in the last several years. It may affect all workplaces, but is especially prevalent in the growing and increasingly competitive healthcare and service sectors. Violence - physical or psychological - can adopt diverse forms, all of them with detrimental effects to the health and wellbeing of the victims and witnesses, generating costs for organizations and society. Read more...

Chapter 05 - Further risks mentioned in the expert forecast

This chapter depicts the further psychosocial risks (the mean values and experts’ comments) mentioned in the forecast. Read more...

Chapter 06 - Conclusion

This chapter summarises the main findings of the forecast and describes the follow-up activities planned for the future. Read more...

Annex 1 - Quantitative results of the second and third rounds

Significant changes which are taking place in the world of work lead to emerging psychosocial risks. Such risks, which are linked to the way work is designed, organised and managed, as well as to the economic and social context of work, result in an increased level of stress and can lead to serious deterioration of mental and physical health. In 2005, more than 20% of workers from the EU believed that their health is at risk because of work-related stress. The report presents the results of the expert forecast on emerging psychosocial risks, supplemented by an analysis of the scientific research on key topics identified by the experts. Read more...

Annex 2 - Results from the 14 respondents to both second and third rounds

Significant changes which are taking place in the world of work lead to emerging psychosocial risks. Such risks, which are linked to the way work is designed, organised and managed, as well as to the economic and social context of work, result in an increased level of stress and can lead to serious deterioration of mental and physical health. In 2005, more than 20% of workers from the EU believed that their health is at risk because of work-related stress. The report presents the results of the expert forecast on emerging psychosocial risks, supplemented by an analysis of the scientific research on key topics identified by the experts. Read more...

Annex 3 - References

Significant changes which are taking place in the world of work lead to emerging psychosocial risks. Such risks, which are linked to the way work is designed, organised and managed, as well as to the economic and social context of work, result in an increased level of stress and can lead to serious deterioration of mental and physical health. In 2005, more than 20% of workers from the EU believed that their health is at risk because of work-related stress. The report presents the results of the expert forecast on emerging psychosocial risks, supplemented by an analysis of the scientific research on key topics identified by the experts. Read more...