Research projects in Field of Action D, preserving and promoting health and work ability
Human-centred work design promotes good health and thus enables individuals to participate in working life over the long term. This is why it is imperative to improve prevention within organisations, with physical and mental health being given equal consideration. The Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin, BAuA) investigates work-related diseases, exposure conditions, and risk factors in order to devise suitable prevention and design measures. Its other research priorities include return-to-work schemes, inclusive work design, and the application of digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) to promote health, participation, and work ability.
Occupational epidemiology, physical and mental health
Mental illnesses are one of the main reasons for the award of reduced earning capacity pensions. BAuA is consequently studying factors such as their social, emotional, and physical aspects, forms of digital work, and demographic changes so it can develop interventions that will promote mental health. Musculoskeletal disorders are also among the most frequent health problems. It is therefore important to survey physical workloads and further expand preventive approaches such as the Key Indicator Methods (Leitmerkmalmethoden) that have been developed by BAuA.
Apart from this, BAuA is exploring the impacts of physical inactivity and sedentary work on cardiometabolic health and cognitive performance. In the light of globalisation and climate change, work-related infection risks are being investigated and protective measures developed. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are being used to research correlations between particular kinds of exposure and health conditions, consequently laying the scientific foundations for recommendations about the recognition of occupational diseases.
Research projects
Preventive occupational healthcare
The care delivered by occupational physicians includes risk assessment, advice, and preventive services. To date, however, little has been known about the concrete implementation of preventive occupational healthcare within organisations. BAuA therefore wishes to build up an important stock of fundamental knowledge by conducting surveys of organisations and occupational physicians and so make it possible to devise ways of improving workplace practice. Apart from this, BAuA is contributing to the development and updating of a number of guidelines published by the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften, AWMF), for example on night and shift work or exercise recommendations for individuals doing highly sedentary screen work, thus helping to create evidence-based recommendations for occupational healthcare practice.
Research projects
Working with health limitations, return-to-work schemes, and inclusion
The “stay-at-work” concept supports employees with health limitations to stay in working life by isolating work-related risk and protective factors and researching what can be done to ensure conditions are diagnosed at an early stage. Field research is being carried out to investigate the practical implementation of differential work design with the aim of developing recommendations for sustainable stay-at-work structures. In Germany, employees returning to work after lengthy periods of sickness are mentored under what is known as operational integration management (OIM). BAuA is investigating the extent to which this model is applicable to different health problems, the opportunities and risks created by hybrid work systems, and the links between in-house provision and external therapeutic services.
Inclusion research focusses on accessible work design and the long-term employment of people with disabilities. Options for the use of AI and digital technologies are being analysed in order to promote inclusive teams and technological support and explore how they influence individuals’ mental health.
Research projects