Training of employers and employees in workplace health promotion in Bulgaria – 7-year experience

AbstractIssueHealth of working population is a question of present interest because of a number of reasons: aging workforce, globalization of the labour market, new and increasing risks at working environment etc. Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) become increasingly relevant field of action for public health improvement all over the world. According to the Bulgarian legislation annual trainings on health and safety at work are obligatory for employers and employees.DescriptionBy this paper 7-year experience in training of employers and employees in WHP was shared. Generally, 9 employers/organizations and 120 employees in three focus groups were included in the training. Questions of the project are: a) how to enhance employers' capability to plan and put into practice health promotion programs; b) how to increase employees' interest for active participation in these programs. Training have been conducted both at workplace and at special meetings outside of work environment, organized by Occupational Health Service in collaboration with health promotion experts of Medical University - Pleven.ResultsAt the beginning (2014), about 2/3 of participants distrust of the proposed approaches. To adapt the training to needs of the audience, a study on the barriers and difficulties in carrying out health promotion activities at workplace was made. Participants were also asked about aspects of WHP that they interested in. During the following meetings (every year from 2014 until now), in...
Source: The European Journal of Public Health - Category: General Medicine Source Type: research