Telework involves a different approach to working. This can lead to certain health problems (technostress, technofatigue, technoaddiction, etc.) and may prevent others (musculoskeletal injuries due to cargo handling, etc.). The psychosocial risk factors that may affect their role are modified. Aspects like the almost constant use of technology or the changing personal relationships can have a positive or a negative impact. Therefore, the definition of telework must take into account strategies to prevent these potential risks, ensure optimal time management, have adequate emotional management and communication skills and a proper job.
The objective of this article is to analyze the effects that the economic crisis Catalonia suffers since year 2008 has had on employment and working conditions, with special emphasis on issues related to safety and health at work. The impact of the crisis, besides the effect it has had on people who have lost their jobs, is already perceivable in a worsening of working conditions in areas such as working hours or exposure to ergonomic and psychosocial risks.
Although this deterioration has not yet translated into a significant increase in the register of accidents and work-related illnesses, this cannot lead us to the mistake of thinking that the crisis has not caused damage in the field of prevention. On the one hand, it is necessary to take caution about data from public registers of occupational accidents, which currently do not allow us to detect work-related illnesses and, on the other hand, it is necessary to take into account that the deterioration in the working conditions does not immediately translate into occupational accidents or diseases. For this reason, it is necessary, now that it seems the economic situation starts to improve, to regain lost ground in terms of risk prevention.
Some reflections are derived from recent studies conducted by the National Institute for Safety and Health at Work (INSHT) in a sample of over 60 excellent companies and directed by the writer of this article, on the link of Occupational hazards prevention to the Social Responsibility policy, and how this contributes to consolidate their successes.