We Advocate for a Safe and Healthy Work Environment

The International Labour Organization marks April 28th as World Day for Safety and Health at Work. The organization is dedicated to improving the opportunities for people to have decent working conditions, freedom, equality, safety, and human dignity in their productive work.

Since adults typically spend a significant amount of time at their workplace, the balance between satisfying and unsatisfying experiences can significantly impact the health and well-being of employees. This, in turn, can affect their susceptibility to the use of addictive substances, particularly alcohol, as well as behavioral addictions such as gambling, betting, etc., which can significantly influence productivity at work.

Guided by international standards, Association for Addiction Prevention NARKO-NE operates in various areas of life that are significant for every individual and where they spend most of their time. One of these areas is the Workplace, and NARKO-NE is currently in the process of developing a preventive program to be implemented with all interested institutions and companies that want to prevent the use and abuse of psychoactive substances among employees and create a healthy work environment.

Addiction prevention in the workplace is achieved through early intervention in collaboration with management and employees, using a methodology of preventive measures and guidelines for intervention in cases of addiction risks. Involving and educating employees, from management to the lowest level, about addiction prevention contributes to raising awareness by providing information and destigmatizing the topic, allowing open discussion, and influencing corporate culture—from consumption to the point of sobriety.

A culture of workplace safety is one in which the right to a safe and healthy work environment is respected at all levels, where governments, employers, and workers actively participate in ensuring a safe and healthy work environment through a system of defined rights, responsibilities, and duties, with the highest priority given to the principle of prevention.

Research shows that the benefits of promoting health in the workplace are numerous: it increases employee well-being, satisfaction, and productivity, raises health awareness among employees, reduces costs for the company and the community at large (lower rates of sick leave and premature retirements), and contributes to maintaining a positive image of companies.

Ileana Šnur – Muratagić