Occupational health indicators: Exploring the social and decent work dimensions of green jobs in Portugal.

BACKGROUND: Green jobs, being in line with the goals of sustainable development, promote "smart, sustainable and inclusive growth", ensure a healthy functioning of Earth's ecosystems and guarantee decent work for all workers and high levels of workers' health. OBJECTIVE: Assessing whether green jobs protect and promote the health of workers and, at the same time, contribute to a reduction of occupational diseases and health damage resulting from accidents at work. METHODS: A core-set of Occupational Health indicators were selected to analyze the "sustainable work" in green employment, based on Annual Report. The indicators were applied to 281,124 establishments and 2,780,686 workers in Portugal. RESULTS: In the green job there is a lower level of organization as regards Occupational Health and Safety Services with a lower coverage of working population, and the incidence and severity of accidents at work is higher, as well as the percentage of workers with a lower level of professional qualification. CONCLUSIONS: Green job is not necessarily translated into safe, healthy and decent work. There is need and urgency to ensure a proper monitoring of green jobs in the context of Occupational Health, a requirement that should not be underestimated, if sustainable development is to be achieved.

Exploring public views on marine litter in Europe: Perceived causes, consequences and pathways to change.

Marine litter is a global challenge and society plays an important role via lifestyles and behaviour, including policy support. We analysed public perceptions of marine litter and contributing factors, using data from 1133 respondents across 16 European countries. People reported high levels of concern about marine litter, and the vast majority (95%) reported seeing litter when visiting the coast. The problem was attributed to product and packaging design and behaviour rather than lack of facilities or accidental loss of items. Retailers, industry and government were perceived as most responsible, but also least motivated and competent to reduce marine litter, whereas scientists and environmental groups were perceived as least responsible but most motivated and competent. Regression analyses demonstrated the importance of psychological factors such as values and social norms above sociodemographic variables. These findings are important for communications and interventions to reduce inputs of marine litter to the natural environment.

Sustainability of green jobs in Portugal: a methodological approach using occupational health indicators.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop a methodological tool to analyze and monitor the green jobs in the context of Occupational Health and Safety. METHODS: A literature review in combination with an investigation of Occupational Health Indicators was performed. The resulting tool of Occupational Health Indicators was based on the existing information of "Single Report" and was validated by national's experts. RESULTS: The tool brings together 40 Occupational Health Indicators in four key fields established by World Health Organization in their conceptual framework "Health indicators of sustainable jobs." The tool proposed allows for assessing if the green jobs enabled to follow the principles and requirements of Occupational Health Indicators and if these jobs are as good for the environment as for the workers' health, so if they can be considered quality jobs. CONCLUSIONS: This shows that Occupational Health Indicators are indispensable for the assessment of the sustainability of green jobs and should be taken into account in the definition and evaluation of policies and strategies of the sustainable development.