Health promotion for the aging workforce in Poland

Abstract

Objectives The aging of the workforce is an issue that calls for concrete measures to promote the health of older workers. This study reports on the results of the European “ProHealth65+” research project interventions conducted in Poland in relation to workplace health promotion for older workers (WHPOW) and the institutions involved in these programs. Material and Methods A three-stage search of peer-reviewed and grey literature on the WHPOW in Poland. Results A total of 59 WHPOW programs were retrieved in Poland in the observation period (2000–2015). Most of these aimed at improving the Qualification and Training or at the Work Climate and attitudes toward older workers. The promotion, organization, and funding of these activities were carried out mainly by supra-national and governmental bodies, enterprises and employers, and educational and trainee institutions. Conclusions Although there is great commitment to the medical surveillance of workers on the part of the Polish occupational health service, our search detected a relatively low number of the WHPOW initiatives. Greater efforts should be made to introduce strategies for addressing aging of the workforce. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2018;31(6):753–761

Keywords

• health promotion
• workplace
• occupational health
• aging
• age management
• health services organization