Title of the project:

„Work and Health” Occupational health project with research, development and innovation

Planned duration of the project:

15 months

Lead beneficiary:

University of Pécs
Project partners: South Transdanubian Regional Labour Centre, University of Osijek

Objectives of the project:

The general, long-term aim of the project is to improve the living standards and the social security of the inhabitants living along the border region by developing their occupational health conditions.
The short-term aim of the project is to elaborate, develop and implement breakthrough points and programmes to facilitate the development of occupational health, the improvement of employability and – indirectly – the increasing of the level of employment.
The concrete aim of the project: the elaboration and the implementation in the concerned period of research and development systems contributing to the joint development of the methodology of occupational health; setting the directions for the training of professionals in the fields of occupational health and ergonomics; the improvement of material-technical conditions and innovation based on all the above.

Justification of the project:

Most of the expenditures in social policy and healthcare as well as investments spent on human resources have positive economic results. The social and health sector must have adequate financial resources in order to help developing the labour supply offered for the potential employees. The main factor of social integration is the access to employment, including the possibilities for obtaining adequate professional knowledge and the possibilities of entering the labour market (or remaining there).
According to Act XCIII of 1993 on Labour Safety, the occupational health service is a general right of the employees and a general obligation of the employer. According to the Decree of the Minister of Health No. 33/1988. (VI.24.) NM on examining professional, occupational and personal aptitude, the position aptitude test is the following: establishing the effect on the examined person of the load resulting from a certain activity performed at a given workplace and position, and whether the person concerned is able to meet the requirements. The aim of the position aptitude test is the following:

• to establish (measure) the individual’s aptitude to comply with the tasks without posing any danger to him/herself and to others.
• to help the individual in maintaining or improving his/her health conditions, and to prevent damage to health at the workplace.
• to facilitate adapting the work to the working individual, i.e.: securing his/her employability in line with the actual working ability in the form of “continuous rehabilitation”.
• The first phase of evaluating the ability is the description of the working conditions (the workplace and its environment) and the analysis of the occupation (work). The second phase also contains two parts: the definition of the health status plus the medical aptitude examination necessary for performing the job and the determination of the working capacity through a special medical examination. With regard to employability, the requirements related to the job and the position (the employment profile) should be clarified in great details.

Programmes in the field of health improvement and sickness prevention must be organised in order to facilitate the development of the health conditions of the working-age population and the prevention of lasting damages to health. Tasks:

• Improvement of access to modern and effective health development and medical services, diagnostics, screening, therapies and rehabilitation services in order to the early detection and the rehabilitation of the working ability.
• Improving the labour market chances of the people who are disadvantaged due to their health conditions or permanent obstacles.
• Ergonomics focuses on human-centered technical and labour safety design, i.e. to align the working activities and the working conditions with the human abilities, capacities and needs. Consequently, a motivation system is needed where the employers secure the material and technical conditions for maintaining health.

Planned activites:

International opening conference (Pécs):

Content: evaluating the situation, introducing the project, outlook
A project launching conference with the participation of physicians, labour experts, university researchers, social experts (number of participants: 100).

Research:

Empirical survey in the working-age population (3000 – 3000 persons in Hungary and in Croatia) on the basis of the relations between occupation, health and labour market.
Empirical survey among the employers about using the tools and methods of ergonomy (300 – 300 employers in Hungary and Croatia)
Interview-based surveys: on the relation between occupational health and the employers; the opinion of the occupational health medical service providers on the health conditions of the working-age population, the place and the role of occupational health in the healthcare sector.
Preparation of research summaries, studies, defining breakthrough points, professional debate, consultations etc.

Development:

On the basis of the research results, the joint development of the methodology of occupational health.
Defining the directions of training professionals in the field of occupational health and ergonomics.
Elaboration of preventive programmes.

Innovation:

Reforming and developing the systematic professional links.
Developing the didactics of training professionals in the field of occupational health and ergonomics.
Starting preventive programmes.
Preparing a comprehensive study book to define the potentials for further innovations.

International closing conference (Osijek):

Demonstrating the results of the project. Project closing conference with the participation of physicians, labour experts, university researchers, social experts (number of participants: 100).

The expected effects of the project:

• Development of a model professional link between Hungary and Croatia including labour, employment, healthcare, research, development and innovation.
• In addition to the direct professional effects, the project contributes to the employability of the people living in the target regions, the improvement of employers’ relations and the development of the methodology of labour services.
• Enrichment of the set of tools and methods.
• The best practices developed may be disseminated within and outside the countries concerned, with a multiplicator effect.