to the website of the 4th European Conference on Promoting Workplace Health, which was jointly organised by the European Commission (DG Sanco), the Health Promotion Unit of the Department of Health and Children (Ireland) and the European Network for Workplace Health Promotion (ENWHP) on June 14t and 15th, 2004 in Dublin / Ireland.
The conference concluded the 4th ENWHP Initiative, which began in October 2002. Presenting the results of three single projects, the conference contributed towards the implementation of the initiative's main objectives:
The Dublin Conference is the 4th Network Conference. The preceding conferences held in Bonn 1999, Lisbon 2001 and Barcelona 2002 concluded the Network's previous joint initiatives.
1st Network Conference: May 31 - June 1, 1999 - Bonn
Successful workplace health promotion (WHP) highly depends on the quality of the measures undertaken. In order to determine what good WHP practice means and how it is implemented, the Network started its first initiative Quality criteria and success factors of workplace health promotion in 1997. The first European Conference organised by ENWHP took place in Bonn in 1999 and marked the conclusion of the initial joint project. It created a forum for the exchange of experiences and helped to reach an understanding on future priorities for achieving a healthy working environment in Europe.
2nd Network Conference: June 18-19, 2000 - Lisbon
The first initiative showed that WHP activities come to pass mainly in large enterprises where necessary infrastructures are usually in place. Furthermore, experiences made in this setting cannot simply be transferred to SMEs, because the organisational and structural differences between these types of companies are simply too great. That is why ENWHP's second joint initiative focused on the development of good WHP practice in the SME-sector and the collection of corresponding Models of Good Practice. The results were presented at the Lisbon conference.
3rd Network Conference: June 17-18, 2002 - Barcelona
In its 3rd joint project the Network concentrated on WHP in public administrations. Since the reform process in the public administration sector largely depends up on administrations being able to work efficiently, WHP strategies and measures can help support this process. ENWHP collected European models of good practice in public administrations based on developed common quality criteria and presented these results at the Barcelona Conference.
Dublin, the capital of Ireland, offers both a long tradition and many interesting features. In the course of an economic boom Dublin has undergone tremendous changes in recent years, making the city become one of Europe's most cosmopolitan cities whose streets are crowded by innumerable visitors every year. The unique energy in this vibrant city is complimented by a wide selection of bars, restaurants and attractions, but also accompanied by a prevailing sense of tradition. Medieval and Georgian architecture provide wonderful distractions for visitors.
Dublin Castle, the site of the conference, is one of the city's major tourist venues. Located in the centre of the city, the Castle served as the seat of the British government of Ireland from the 12th century until 1922. Since the 1930s it is used for inaugurations of the presidents of Ireland. After major refurbishment, parts of the Castle now serve as a conference centre.
For more information on Dublin visit the Tourism Office of Dublin or Dublintourist.com.
For more information on the venue please turn to the Castle's website.
Micheál Martin - Irish Minister for Health and Children
Appointed Minister for Health and Children in January, 2000, Mr. Micheál Martin was Minister for Education and Science from June 1997 to January, 2000. He was first elected to the Dáil, for the Cork South-Central constituency, in 1989. He was opposition spokesperson for Education and the Gaeltacht from 1995 to 1997. Mr. Martin has been a member of Cork Corporation, and is a former Lord Mayor of Cork (1992-1993). He is a former Chairman of the All-Party Committee on the Irish language.
David Byrne - European Commission, Brussels
David Byrne was appointed in September 1999 as the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, with particular responsibility for Food Safety, Public Health and Consumer Protection.
Prior to being European Commissioner, Mr Byrne was Attorney General in the Irish Government from June 1997 to July 1999. He was responsible for legal advice to the Government and for all litigation involving the State before the Irish and European Courts. All legislation submitted by the Government to Parliament was drafted under his supervision.
Mr Byrne also advised on the Constitutional Amendments necessary for Ireland's ratification of the Amsterdam Treaty. His previous career was as a barrister. He was called to the Bar in 1970 and practised law in the Superior Courts of Ireland and in the European Court of Justice, specialising in Constitutional, Civil and European Law.
Gregor Breuker - BKK-Bundesverband, Essen
Dr. Gregor Breucker is deputy head of the Health Department at the Federal Association of Company Health Insurance Funds (BKK Bundesverband) in Essen, Germany and within that function head of the WHO-Collaborating Centre for Workplace Health Promotion.
Dr. Breucker is a psychologist and was educated at the University of Münster. His work concentrates on policy development and dissemination of strategies in the area of health promotion and prevention both at national and European levels. He has published several international articles, books and book chapters on workplace health promotion. In his studies the emphasis is on prevention, European strategies and applied research methodology.
Gregor Breucker is project co-ordinator of the European Network for Workplace Health Promotion (ENWHP), which is supported by the European Commission.
He is also co-ordinator of the European Network of Enterprise for Health (EfH) and Chairman of the European Network of Social Insurance Institutions for Health (ENSIfH).
Willy Buschak - European Foundation for the Improvement of Working and Living Conditions, Dublin
Willy Buschak is Acting Director of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Dublin. He studied history at the University of Bochum where he gained an MA and a PhD. Following his studies, he embarked on a career in research. In 1987 he joined the central administration of the German trade union for food, beverages and restaurant workers, based in Hamburg, where he was responsible for political planning and all aspects relating to codetermination.
In 1991 he was appointed Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, where his areas of responsibilities included European Works Councils, worker involvement in the European Company (SE), information and consultation, merger control and telework (negotiations towards a European framework agreement).
He is the author of numerous books and articles on social history, particularly on the subject of resistance to national socialism in Germany. His most recent publication deals with globalisation and trade unions in the twenties and thirties of the twentieth century.
Lamberto Briziarelli - University of Perugia, Italy
Lamberto Briziarelli is a medical doctor and professor of Public Health in the Faculty of Medicine. He is the President of Course Degree in Nursing (same Faculty) and Director of the Experimental Centre for Health Education at the University of Perugia, Italy. Mr Briziarelli is President of the Italian Confederation of Health Promotion and Education and of the IUHPE Regional Committee. He is member of several international organizations working in the field of Health as well as member of the group reponsible for the publication of the National Health Report for the years 1999 and 2000. He was a consultant to the Ministry of Health in the same period and is now consulting the Region of Umbria in the Matter of Health Promotion and Public Health. Mr Briziarelli has long experience of studies and research in the fields of Health planning and evaluation, Health Promotion and Education, Environmental Epidemiology documented in more than 160 publications, in books and journals.
Marc De Greef - Prevent, Brussels
Marc De Greef is managing director of PREVENT, the Belgian Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The institute focuses on knowledge management, knowledge transformation and knowledge integration with regard to safety and health at work. The institute also deals with research and monitoring, it has a specialised centre for SME's and cooperates with the different target groups such as expert organisations, intermediaries, social partners, public authorities. PREVENT provides products and services such as information, training and consultancy to companies and institutions; the staff of the institute has a large experience with the specific requirements of the shop floor.
PREVENT is active in a wide variety of networks on national and international level. The institute is an active member of the topic centres good practice and research of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work; it also supports the Belgian Focal Point and is active in various national networks. PREVENT is a member of PEROSH, the European Network of OSH research institutes and of ENWHP, the European Network for Work Health Promotion.
Marc De Greef also chairs the Information Section of the International Social Security Association, based in Geneva. He is also the chairman of ENSHPO, the European Network of Safety and Health Practitioners Organisations. This network was established in 2001; last year Marc was elected as chairman of this network. He will give you a presentation on the objectives and on the structure of this new network.
Hans-Horst Konkolewsky - European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Bilbao
Hans-Horst Konkolewsky heads the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work since September 1996. Prior to this position, Mr Konkolewsky worked in the Danish Ministry of Labour as Deputy Director General of the Danish Working Environment Authority (WEA) with responsibility for the management of the headquarters in Copenhagen with 250 employees. His specific management tasks included the overall strategic planning, budget and personnel as well as the international relations of WEA, including the co-operation within the European Union. Mr Konkolewsky sees the Agencys role as a major provider of information about best practice in safety and health matters, providing practical solutions to workers and companies. This in order to improve safety and health standards at European workplaces to the benefit for the health and well-being of the employees and the competitiveness of industry.
Dr. Karl Kuhn - Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Dortmund
Karl Kuhn is Director and Professor at the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in Dortmund. He studied social sciences at the universities of Tübingen, Lund/Sweden and Stockholm, where he earned a Masters and a Ph.D. - Degree. His key activities are Workplace design, work organisation, age and employment, mental health, workplace health promotion, economics of prevention. Other activities include Member of various national and international bodies in the fields of safety and health. He chairs the ENWHP since 1996.
Henri Rouilleault - National Agency for the Improvement of Working Conditions (ANACT), Lyon
Since July 1991, Henri Rouilleault heads the National Agency for the Improvement of Working Conditions (ANACT) as General Director.
Between 1988 and 1991, he was an adviser for work, employment, wages, and vocational training questions, at the Prime Minister cabinet, Michel Rocard, and at the Finance Minister cabinet, Pierre Beregovoy. Prior to this engagement he served as an administrator at the Forecasting Direction of the Ministry of Finance.
Mr Rouilleault's main diplomas and other activities include Master of Statistics, Paris VI (1970), a Master of Economics, Paris I (1972), Social Sciences Aggregation (1977) and Ecole Nationale de la Statistique et de l'Administration Economique (ENSAE; 1982). Since 2000 he is visiting Professor at the Trent University in Nottingham.
Lenneke Vaandrager - NIGZ, Woerden
Dr Lenneke Vaandrager is programme co-ordinator and works at the Department of Work and Health of the Netherlands Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (NIGZ). She is active in the area of integral health management, asthma/COPD and work, WHP consultancy, (action) research and training. She has studied human nutrition and health promotion and has a PhD in communication and organisational change. She has wide experience in European initiatives and developmental work. She is the representative for the ENWHP National Contact Office in the Netherlands and manages the toolbox initiative of this network.
Dr. Richard Wynne - Work Research, Dublin
Richard Wynne (PhD.) was educated in Trinity College Dublin, and has worked in the area of occupational psychology as a researcher and consultant since 1981. He is a founder Director of the Work Research Centre (1988), prior to which he worked as a researcher with the Irish Foundation for Human Development. Within the WRC he is responsible for projects in the areas of workplace health and wellbeing and workplace related disability issues. His work in the health field reflects his interest in structural features of the workplace as they affect health and wellbeing. He has completed a major study of innovative health practices in eight EU countries for the European Foundation (DG-V). Other projects in this area include drafting guidelines to prevent violence at the workplace for the European Commission, the development of a European methodology for establishing health promotion in the workplace, and a study of new approaches to health in the workplace. Other work concerns the description of stress processes in the workplace and the development of comprehensive stress management plans for a range of professional groups. He also lectures extensively on workplace stress, health promotion at work and health and safety for agencies such as University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin and Nottingham University. He has published widely in these areas, both nationally and internationally.