Why a questionnaire on health and work?

Exposure to health risks at work is commonplace, and these risk factors are varied: physical and postural stress, arduous work, noise, temperature, vibrations, radiation, biological agents and chemical hazards, mental workload and stress, working hours and pace, exhaustion and conflictual relationships. The work-related illnesses that can result are numerous: cancers, respiratory ailments, muscular and bone disorders, psychological, anxiety and depression disorders, etc.

In Switzerland, however, we lack data on occupational exposure to these risks and on working conditions. And yet we need to develop and adapt our knowledge of the constantly changing world of work: the short- and long-term impact of working conditions on various diseases, the role of occupational and social trajectories in inequalities in access to healthcare, factors of fragility at work, the effects of working environments and their evolution on individuals, and so on. For example, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, new ways of working - particularly teleworking - have been introduced or have become more widespread. At the same time, obligations or aspirations to change profession or find a better work-life balance have emerged or, in some cases, been reinforced.

These changes and issues show the usefulness of studying a large number of data relating to the relationship with work, which might not at first appear to have any direct links with health.

Some of you may not recognise yourself in the questions asked, the themes addressed or the work constraints mentioned in our questionnaires. However, it is important that all participants of working age complete the proposed questionnaire, as we also need to have data on people who are not affected by the risks being studied. In epidemiology, to understand the role of risk factors and obtain scientifically reliable results, it is always necessary to compare people who are exposed with people who are not.

The occupational health questionnaire is still available in thepersonal space for employees.