While the issue of work-life balance is very much in the public eye these days, health at work remains invisible. And yet, there are still many accidents at work. In 2019, France had 783,617 accidents at work resulting in a temporary interruption of work. A poor performer in Europe, France has three times as many fatal accidents per 1,000 accidents as the Netherlands. The service sector is the most affected, with the highest number of accidents, which leads us to understand the role of nurses in occupational health. In fact, this health professional is caught up in two movements: the first is that of preventive agent in occupational health services. They work closely with employees and employers, with the aim of improving workers’ health. The second is that of workers caught up in working conditions that expose them to occupational risks. Under these conditions, this research workshop on the world of occupational health aims to shed light on these two movements.

To achieve this, the workshop combines health professionals and scientists in seven presentations. After an introduction by Nadine Rauch as president of the Groupement des infirmiers de santé au travail and Aymeric Le Corre as organiser of the day’s proceedings, we will hear from Julia Val Legoff, a doctoral student in sociology at the University of Clermont-Auvergne, who will discuss the issues surrounding recognition of the occupational health nursing profession in the social arena. This perspective will continue with two papers dealing with occupational health issues with apprentices. Audrey Abrivard, an occupational health nurse, will talk about the added value of nursing for this population, followed by Gilles Descloux, a sociologist at the Haute Ecole en Formation Professionnelle in Lausanne. The morning will conclude with two health professionals talking about their experiences of working together and working with employees.

The afternoon will be devoted to a review of the working conditions of carers. Sociologist Fanny Vincent, from the Jean Monet University in Saint-Etienne, will take part in a videoconference to talk about public policies on working conditions for female carers and their consequences. This will be followed by a presentation from Alexis Bataille-Hembert, paramedical advisor to the MNH, a nurse and co-editor of a ministerial report on the health of healthcare professionals. The discussions will conclude with an exchange of views on the research that remains to be carried out in France today. Finally, throughout the day, an employee of Promotion Santé Nouvelle Aquitaine will present and discuss the tools available today to prevent health-related risks in the workplace.

The event is open free of charge to anyone with an interest in health and safety at work. Its aim is to bring together health professionals and scientists to discuss these topical issues. Registration is compulsory and possible until 15 November 2024 via the sciencesconf platform.