This year’s Russian Labour Safety Week featured a session entitled ‘Health-Saving Environment for the Healthy Person’ organized by the Roscongress Foundation’s Healthy Life ecosystem.

Salutogenesis is a concept that focuses not on the risk factors for a given disease, but on the factors that support human health and wellbeing: adequate sleep; healthy nutrition; mental balance; eliminating stress; physical activity; and a favourable environment. Together, these factors reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases, improve health, and boost overall satisfaction. The reality of life today is that people spend most of the daylight hours – the time when they exert the maximum physical and mental resources – at their workplaces. This has led to the appearance of a new approach to preserving the health of workers, one that focuses on creating a healthy working environment and climate based on the principles of salutogenesis. These principles help maintain and strengthen health, contribute to increased productivity and employee satisfaction, and motivate staff to lead a healthy lifestyle. This does not mean simply creating a working environment that promotes physical and mental wellbeing, a place to recharge one’s batteries, as it were; it is also about forming a culture of health in the workplace in general, and the individual’s involvement in looking after his or her own health. 

The session was moderated by Alexey Danilov, Director, Institute of Interdisciplinary Medicine; Head of Department of Nervous Diseases, Institute of Postgraduate Education, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University).

“The health of the working population is the most significant component of national wealth, a special economic resource that largely determines the socioeconomic development of the country. It is becoming increasingly important in this rapidly changing world to develop new vectors and solutions with respect to worker health. Modern technologies and innovative approaches offer us unique opportunities to create a healthier and more productive working environment. Implementing programmes to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of employees, using digital tools to monitor health, and creating flexible working conditions can both increase productivity as a whole and significantly improve the quality of life of every single employee. Investing in employee health is investing in the future of the company, which in turn helps create a sustainable and successful corporate culture where everyone feels valued and protected,” Alexey Danilov underscored.

Other participants in the session included Director of the National Agency for the Development of Social Initiatives Marina Kurganova; Head of the Department for the Organization of Medical Care and Project Activities at Metalloinvest Management Company Maxim Kravchenko; medical psychologist at the Butovo Comprehensive Rehabilitation Centre, architect of the Neuroplatform national project, and founder of the Cactus Children psychological school Dmitry Kryuchkov; and endocrinologist, dietician, and nutritionist Arina Tertyshnaya.

“The concept of salutogenesis offers an innovative approach for Russia to create new office spaces and urban environments that promote health, focusing on what makes people healthy, rather than on what ailments they may have. At the core of this concept is the belief that life has meaning and that people of capable of dealing with challenges. In our everyday lives, where stress and uncertainty have almost become the norm, it is especially important to pay attention to factors that help improve our health: physical activity; a balanced diet; quality sleep; and good mental health. New developments such as digital health and personalized medicine open up new horizons for preserving health. However, it is important to keep in mind that everyone is responsible for their own health. This includes making conscious lifestyle choices, regular health checkups, and a commitment to self-improvement. Accepting this responsibility is the only way to not only prolong our lives, but also make them more complete and fulfilling,” noted Director of the National Agency for the Development of Social Initiatives Marina Kurganova.

The expert discussion covered such current issues as programmes to motivate people to lead a healthy lifestyle; employer responsibility; how to get the right specialists involved in health protection to improve people’s quality of life; and determining what kind of environment can contribute to the formation of good health.

Russian Labour Safety Week takes place from 10 to 13 September at Sirius University of Science and Technology in Sirius Federal Territory.

The Forum has been organized by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation.

The Russian Labour Safety Week Organizing Committee is headed by Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Tatyana Golikova.

Roscongress Foundation serves as the official operator of the event.

Russian Labour Safety Week official website – rusafetyweek.com