About this Research Topic
Occupational Medicine has always been concerned with preventing health problems caused by working conditions and with promoting and maintaining the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations. In the recent decades, with the aging of the working population and the rise in sickness absenteeism and associated financial impacts on organisations, workplace health promotion has become a top priority. The COVID-19 pandemic has also sensitized public opinion on the need for safe practices in the workplace and placed the attention of government and institutions worldwide on the fundamental role that occupational safety and health services play.
As we have seen for the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, the workplace interventions on health, safety and lifestyle of workers can be a model to export for reaching populations. In the last years, new exposure assessment methods in occupational settings have led to significant improvements in the quality of scientific studies and other measures to promote and support workers’ health. On the other hand, several persistent and emerging issues (e.g. the increase in chronic disease and mental ill-health; work-related stress as well as technological advances and new ways of working such as smart-work) justify the continuing need for novel strategies to better assess exposure to old and new occupational risk factors.
The aim of this Research Topic is to showcase the variety and relevance of recent developments in this field, ranging from emerging occupational risk factors and new potential early organ damage biomarkers, to innovative strategies and policies for disease prevention and health promotion in the workplace.
Potential topics include, but are not limited, to the following:
• Novel risk factors in the workplace
• The importance and role of biomarkers of occupational exposure, effects and susceptibility
• New biomarkers of metabolic alterations and early organ damage caused by specific work conditions
• Innovative strategies for disease prevention and for raising workers awareness of well-being in the workplace
• Gene expression profiling in shift and night work
• Health screening interventions in workplace settings, preventive protocols to avoid the spread of biological agents in the workplace, also related to climate change.
The following papers will be considered for publication: Original Research, Systematic Reviews of existing literature, Case Report. Manuscripts summarizing a method/protocol, and commentary papers are also welcomed. All submitted manuscripts will go through rigorous peer review process.
As we have seen for the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, the workplace interventions on health, safety and lifestyle of workers can be a model to export for reaching populations. In the last years, new exposure assessment methods in occupational settings have led to significant improvements in the quality of scientific studies and other measures to promote and support workers’ health. On the other hand, several persistent and emerging issues (e.g. the increase in chronic disease and mental ill-health; work-related stress as well as technological advances and new ways of working such as smart-work) justify the continuing need for novel strategies to better assess exposure to old and new occupational risk factors.
The aim of this Research Topic is to showcase the variety and relevance of recent developments in this field, ranging from emerging occupational risk factors and new potential early organ damage biomarkers, to innovative strategies and policies for disease prevention and health promotion in the workplace.
Potential topics include, but are not limited, to the following:
• Novel risk factors in the workplace
• The importance and role of biomarkers of occupational exposure, effects and susceptibility
• New biomarkers of metabolic alterations and early organ damage caused by specific work conditions
• Innovative strategies for disease prevention and for raising workers awareness of well-being in the workplace
• Gene expression profiling in shift and night work
• Health screening interventions in workplace settings, preventive protocols to avoid the spread of biological agents in the workplace, also related to climate change.
The following papers will be considered for publication: Original Research, Systematic Reviews of existing literature, Case Report. Manuscripts summarizing a method/protocol, and commentary papers are also welcomed. All submitted manuscripts will go through rigorous peer review process.
Keywords: Occupational medicine, Health promotion, Occupational exposure, Biomarkers, Screening interventions
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
