Organisational interventions to combat stress risks in the Netherlands: design oriented approach

The members of PEROSH, Partnership for European Research in Occupational Safety and Health, observed a need to enhance knowledge on the theme ‘Organisational interventions to combat psychosocial factors of stress’. A first step in doing so was to create opportunities to learn from each (participating) country about activities undertaken in this field. This paper is the Dutch contribution. The Combat Workstress Approach is discussed as the main example of approaches to combat psychosocial factors. Its central goal is to assess and eliminate the sources of problems in the work environment. Specific organisational interventions are organisational redesign and job redesign. The challenge of the method is that it combines possibilities to reduce stress risks and enhance an organisation’s performance at the same time. The method has elements that are of interest to other countries, which are quite well transferable.