Research for Safe and Healthy Working Lives
Every day, three million Danes go to work, and for many, work serves as a sense of purpose, meaning, and stability. Some have just entered their very first jobs, while others are approaching retirement. Some are apprentices, oth-ers managers, and many more are somewhere in between. Regardless, they are all part of a workforce that creates value and forms the backbone of the Danish society.
At the National Research Centre for the Working Environment (NFA), we conduct research to promote safe and healthy workplaces and support sustainable working lives.
NFA generates knowledge about the working environment across occupational settings. Hazardous dust in air, limited influence on work tasks, and constrained working postures can have serious consequences for our health. Conversely, improved ventilation, support from management, and a healthy balance between working postures can lead to improved health.
At NFA, we deliver relevant and actionable high-quality research developed in close collaboration with key stakeholders within occupational safety and health. Whether we uncover workplace challenges or develop solutions, our goal is simple: to help create safe and healthy working lives where well-being and productivity go hand in hand.
A healthy working environment benefits both people and society. It can reduce stress and sickness absence, prevent chronic illness and pain, and support long-term health and well-being. We work to identify what actually works in improving the working environment− and which initiatives create the greatest value for both workplaces and society.
NFA generates knowledge for those who shape working lives in practice. From local managers and health and safety representatives to policymakers in the Danish Parliament and the EU, our research contributes to the knowledge base required to make informed decisions.
We look ahead to the emerging challenges and opportunities shaping the working environment, from artificial intelligence to new digital technologies. At the same time, our research is grounded in years of experience and strong interdisciplinary expertise.
And we practise what we preach. From physical activity initiatives such as resistance band training and walk-and-talks to organisational approaches that strengthen psychological safety and employee involvement, we ensure that well-being, safety, and health are highly prioritised.