The EPHOR-PEROSH workshops held on October 30 and 31, 2024, brought together experts and stakeholders from around the globe to discuss innovative tools and methodologies in occupational health. These online workshops, organized in collaboration with the Partnership for European Research on Occupational Safety and Health (PEROSH), provided a platform for sharing knowledge and fostering collaboration.
Day 1: Working Life Expectancy (WLE) Tool Workshop
On October 30, the focus was on the Working Life Expectancy (WLE) tool. Moderated by Miranda Loh and presented by Svetlana Solovieva, the workshop introduced a new tool designed to calculate the working life expectancy and healthy working life expectancy in the population . The session saw active participation from 29 attendees out of 53 registered, representing nine different countries, including Finland, the UK, Poland, France, and the Netherlands.
Participants engaged in discussions on the practical applications of the WLE tool, exploring its potential to differentiate between different exposures, occupations, and demographic factors. The feedback gathered during the workshop will be instrumental in refining the tool to better meet the needs of policymakers, researchers, and occupational health practitioners.
Day 2: Multiple Exposure Health Impact Assessment (HIA) Tool Workshop
The second day, October 31, was dedicated to the Multiple Exposure Health Impact Assessment (HIA) tool. Moderated by Eelco Kuijpers and presented by Matthew Gittins, this workshop aimed to evaluate the health impacts of multiple occupational exposures. With 35 participants out of 60 registered, the workshop attracted a diverse group of scientists and experts from 11 different countries, including the UK, the Netherlands, Finland, France, and Germany.
Discussions centered around the tool’s ability to predict the potential results of interventions and its application in various sectors. Participants provided valuable insights on improving the tool’s functionality, such as incorporating non-chemical stressors and creating versions tailored to different user groups.
Key Takeaways and Future Directions
Both workshops highlighted the importance of stakeholder involvement in the development and implementation of occupational health tools. The feedback collected will guide the enhancement of the WLE and HIA tools, ensuring they are user-friendly and effective in real-world applications. The presentations from the workshops have been shared with participants for further dissemination and use.
EPHOR and PEROSH continue to lead the way in occupational health research, fostering collaboration and innovation to improve workplace safety and health outcomes. Stay tuned for more updates and insights from the EPHOR project and the WE-EXPOSE toolbox.
For more information, visit:
EPHOR: https://www.ephor-project.eu/
Toolbox: https://www.we-expose.eu/
Order EHEN Newsletter: https://www.humanexposome.eu/newsletter/
Contact:
Kristiina Kulha, FIOH, Kristiina.Kulha@ttl.fi
