Panteia and HIVA-KU Leuven secure new EU-OSHA project on physical risks and mental health
Panteia, together with HIVA – Research Institute for Work and Society at KU Leuven, has been awarded a new research project by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA). The study will examine how physical risks, psychosocial risks and environmental working conditions interact and affect workers’ mental health, safety and well-being.
The project, entitled Physical risks and mental health: review of interactions, prevention practices and workplace cases across various sectors, responds to the growing recognition that physical and mental health risks at work cannot always be understood or addressed separately.
Workers are often exposed to several interconnected risks. Physically demanding tasks, musculoskeletal disorders, noise, vibration, extreme temperatures and poor ergonomic conditions may combine with factors such as high workloads, time pressure, limited autonomy, fatigue and insufficient support. These combined exposures can affect workers’ mental health, work ability and safety, while also increasing the risk of occupational accidents.
From evidence to practical prevention
The project will consist of two closely connected work packages. The first will provide an analytical review and synthesis of scientific and institutional evidence. It will examine four main areas:
- the relationship between musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial risks;
- the mental-health effects of physical and environmental working conditions;
- the relationship between psychosocial risks and work-related accidents; and
- integrated prevention and risk-management approaches.
The research will draw on scientific and grey literature, policy documents and European data sources such as the European Working Conditions Survey, the European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks, the OSH Pulse survey and Eurostat data.
The second work package will identify and document workplace case studies from different sectors and European countries. These cases will illustrate how organisations address combinations of physical, psychosocial and environmental risks in practice and will highlight transferable lessons for employers, workers and occupational safety and health professionals.
Particular attention will be paid to sectors involving physically or higher-risk work, micro and small enterprises, and potentially vulnerable groups, including migrant, temporary, seasonal, younger and older workers.
Supporting healthier and safer workplaces
By combining a robust evidence review with practical workplace examples, the study will help strengthen understanding of how different occupational risks interact and how they can be prevented through more integrated approaches.
The findings will support EU-OSHA’s research, guidance and communication activities, including its work related to mental health and psychosocial risks. The project will translate complex evidence into accessible conclusions and prevention messages for policymakers, employers, workers, social partners and prevention professionals.
The project builds on the complementary expertise of Panteia and HIVA-KU Leuven. Panteia brings extensive experience in European occupational safety and health research, project management, evidence synthesis and workplace case studies. HIVA-KU Leuven contributes strong academic and applied expertise in psychosocial risks, mental health at work, work organisation, musculoskeletal disorders and labour-market vulnerabilities.
We are delighted to continue our collaboration with EU-OSHA and look forward to contributing to stronger, more integrated approaches to protecting workers’ physical and mental health.
