Swedish ICMIF member Afa Försäkring has announced almost SEK 30 million in funding for eight new research projects looking at the work environment and its effect on people’s health. Projects include: challenges in working life linked to camera, sustainable teaching work in socio-economically vulnerable areas and sustainable work environments for hearing loss.
Ulrika Hektor, Head of the Research and Development Department, R&D, at Afa Försäkring said: “We want to contribute to a good work environment in the long term with fewer occupational injuries and reduced sick leave. We do this, among other things, by supporting research that promotes a safe and healthy working life.”
“The research we fund on behalf of the social partners must be of practical use in working life. We have now decided to fund eight new interesting projects focusing on different topics and industries in everything from camera surveillance in municipalities and regions, sustainable teaching work in socio-economically vulnerable areas, sustainable work environment in hearing loss and psychosocial safety climate among employees in elderly care,” Hektor concluded.
The eight new research projects are:
Extended mandate for camera surveillance in municipalities and regions – implications for working life
It has been proposed that Swedish municipalities and regions be given an increased mandate and responsibility for camera surveillance in order to prevent crime and maintain public order. This can contribute to increased safety and security for particularly vulnerable professional groups, activities and places, but it also entails challenges related to skills and resources.
Jan Canbäck Ljungberg, University of Gothenburg, will receive about SEK 4.7 million to study the overall conditions, needs and challenges of municipalities and regions linked to camera surveillance.
The project will contribute knowledge about the opportunities and challenges of camera surveillance, in order to increase safety and security in activities such as schools, healthcare and public transport.
Promoting sustainable teaching in socio-economically disadvantaged areas
The number of reports of serious threats and violence in schools has increased sharply, and teachers in after-school centres are particularly affected, especially in socio-economically vulnerable areas. The number of stress-related sick leave and sick leave related to accidents or shortcomings in the work environment is increasing for this occupational group.
Helena Ackesjö, Linnaeus University, will receive around SEK 2.8 million to study what the most frequent risks for the profession are and how they can be managed and prevented to make the profession physically and psychosocially sustainable.
WorkHear – sustainable work environment for hearing loss
Hearing loss is a global health problem and around 800,000 working people in Swedish have hearing loss, which corresponds to around 14 percent of the country’s workforce. There is relatively little research on what characterises a sustainable work environment for people with hearing loss.
Sarah Granberg, Örebro University, will receive almost SEK 4 million to research and increase knowledge about the role of the work environment for people with hearing loss.
The results are expected to lead to in-depth knowledge of the importance of the work environment in order to understand how the work environment can be organised in a health-promoting way from a hearing perspective.
Digital work environment for all – guidelines and policy recommendations for inclusion in hearing loss
Hearing loss increases the risk of early retirement and sick leave. Research on how digital work environments affect employees with hearing loss is limited, despite the fact that new technologies can create both opportunities and risks. To promote more inclusive work environments, further research is required on this.
Erik Marsja, Linköping University, will receive almost SEK 3.4 million to explore the area more. By examining how people with hearing loss experience the digital work environment, specific barriers and effective strategies can be identified.
The project is expected to provide new knowledge to develop policy recommendations and practical guidelines for digital communication, which take into account the challenges faced by employees with hearing loss and help employers improve participation and design a more inclusive work environment for all employees.
Osteoarthritis of the hand issues in the workplace
Osteoarthritis of the hand can lead to reduced work ability and sick leave. About half of all women develop osteoarthritis of the hand during their lifetime. It is therefore important to find methods that reduce pain, preserve mobility, have few complications and provide a rapid return in functional level and ability to work.
Elin Swärd, at Region Stockholm/Karolinska Institutet, will receive almost SEK 1.3 million to research whether surgical denervation (a procedure which aims to dissect the nerves innervating painful joints), thereby disabling the pain signalling without impairing joint function is more effective than other methods, as well as patient education and joint-specific training for painful osteoarthritis of the wrist or finger joint.
Healthy and injury-free occupational debut – long-term effects of occupational technique training with sensor-based biofeedback
Training and education in work techniques are important when introducing new staff to prevent ill health and accidents. Insufficient training and education contribute to young people’s overrepresentation of work-related ill-health and accidents. Sensor-based feedback can improve learning, work technique, use and adjustment of work equipment and reduce poor physical strain.
Liyun Yang, Karolinska Institutet, will receive approximately SEK 4 million to evaluate the long-term effects of work technique training with sensor-based biofeedback, when the intervention is made early in connection with the vocational introduction to healthcare and industrial work.
Measures to improve road safety for professionals who need to drive as part of their work
Accidents for professional groups who drive a car in the course of their work without being a professional driver can lead to personal injuries and even death. Lack of training, stress, fatigue, work schedule design and physical discomfort, which lead to misuse of protection systems, can increase the risk of accidents and contribute to musculoskeletal disorders.
Anna-Lisa Osvalder, Chalmers University of Technology, will receive approximately SEK 4.7 million to develop measures for increased knowledge and improved road safety behaviour for professional groups who drive cars in the course of their work. Businesses included are staff in health and social care, craftsmen in service/construction and salespeople in technology companies. The goal is to improve planning, driving behavior and the correct use of protection systems.
Can a good psychosocial safety climate improve the work environment and prevent sick leave among employees who care for the elderly
Sickness absence among care workers who look after elderly people is high. High physical and psychosocial demands at work are contributing factors to this. A good psychosocial safety climate can be a success factor in improving the work environment and reducing sick leave.
Leticia Januario, University of Gävle, will receive almost SEK 4.5 million to research the ways in which the psychosocial safety climate can affect physical and psychosocial working conditions and sick leave in those working to care for the elderly.
The project will investigate the relationship between the psychosocial safety climate and future sickness absence among elderly care workers, directly or by interacting with psychosocial and physical work environment factors. The study will identify obstacles and opportunities to maintain or create a good psychosocial safety climate in municipal elderly care from the perspective of managers. The results are expected to contribute to knowledge that can be used to improve working conditions and reduce sick leave in elderly care.
