Hybridisation between living and working environment: evolution of prevention and protection measures in relation to population impoverishment and the central role of workers

Abstract

The Italian National Institute of Statistics (Istat), a public research institute and the main producer of official statistics, has faced the transformations caused by the increasing spread of remote work, accelerated by the pandemic. The aim of this study is to analyse the hybridisation between living and working environment, exploring the implications of work flexibility, the new requirements for adapting prevention and protection measures as well as the socio-economic impacts on workers' well-being. A multidisciplinary approach has been adopted to carry out this analysis, integrating statistical and regulatory aspects with working conditions assessments. To examine strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with the adoption of hybrid work it has been used a SWOT analysis. Sources include anonymised data from health surveillance visits at Istat, Inail surveys on sector specific occupational accidents and diseases, as well as academic studies on new organisational models and on the impact of economic and social inequalities. The study highlights the evolution of the concept of the "workplace" that now can be applied to domestic and shared spaces, requiring the implementation of new prevention and protection measures to ensure workers’ safety, health, and well-being. The analysis assesses the risk of disparities in access to technology and optimal working conditions, which could contribute to increased mental workload and work-related stress. The extension of prevention measures to home environments, the promotion of a culture of prevention that incorporate healthy lifestyles, and the enhancement of training on the risks associated with agile work are some of the strategies proposed to mitigate these effects. Finally, the study underlines the need for inclusive policies to reduce gender, territorial, economic, and cultural inequalities, reinforcing the central role of workers in the transition towards more flexible and sustainable work models.