ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS
16th - 18th March 2016
Congress Overview
The Dutch Association of Occupational Health Nurses (V&VN Arbo) hosted the 6th International FOHNEU Congress in Rotterdam from 16 to 18 March 2016, welcoming delegates, presenters and keynote speakers from 17 countries, in and outside Europe, to De Doelen Congress Centre in the heart of the city. The Congress coincided with V&VN's 70th anniversary, which was celebrated together with the international FOHNEU family throughout the event.
The Congress was co-created by the City of Rotterdam, Rotterdam Partners, the Convention Bureau Erasmus, the Scientific Committee, the Organizing Committee and a large team of volunteers, and was held under the patronage of the European Parliament. Judith Shamian, President of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), sent a message of greeting on behalf of the ICN's 132 member countries, commending the Congress theme and the Federation's efforts to raise the profile of occupational health nursing across Europe.
Congress at a Glance
Delegates of the 6th FOHNEU International Congress
Opening Ceremony and Patronage
The Congress was opened by Gerard Michorius, President of V&VN Arbo and President of the Organizing Committee, together with Styliani (Stella) Tziaferi, President of FOHNEU. In her opening address, President Tziaferi welcomed delegates from across Europe and beyond, noting that many had travelled a long way to attend despite the difficult financial and political conditions affecting parts of the continent, and reaffirmed FOHNEU's mission — pursued since its establishment in the United Kingdom in 1993 — to consolidate and represent the voice of Occupational Health Nursing within the EU.
President Tziaferi also used the opening ceremony to highlight the collaboration built during her presidency with EU-OSHA in Bilbao, thanking its Director, Dr Sedlatschek, for the Agency's continued partnership with FOHNEU.
The Opening Speech by Gerard Michorius President of V&VN Arbo and Stella Tziaferi President of FOHNEU
Main Theme and Topics
The Congress theme, “New Occupational Health Horizons,” reflected the changing content and context of Occupational Health Nursing (OHN) brought about by evolving work environments and new forms of employment. Sessions addressed the additional knowledge and skills OHNs must now cultivate, including:
● Understanding the complex effects of work on mental health, and contributing to its management
● Applying a holistic approach to the care of workers' health
● Designing and implementing health promotion programmes
● Applying principles of trans-cultural nursing in increasingly diverse workplaces
● Contributing to scientific risk assessment as an equal, interdisciplinary team member
● Developing a safety culture and a culture of health self-protection among workers
● Extending OHN services to small and medium-sized enterprises through inter-company infrastructures
Keynote and Invited Speakers
Ten keynote and invited speakers addressed the Congress across three days of plenary and special sessions:
● Prof. Dr Alex Burdorf (Erasmus MC Rotterdam) — Role of health promotion programmes for productive and sustained employment
● Prof. Rob Gründemann (TNO / Utrecht University of Applied Sciences) — Employability of older workers
● Valérie Van Gulck (Group IDEWE, Belgium; FOHNEU Board) — Health and safety for small and micro-sized enterprises
● Prof. Dr C.T.J. Hulshof (Coronel Institute of Occupational Health) — Task reallocation in occupational health
● Xabier Irastorza (EU-OSHA) — New and Emerging Risks in European Workplaces: evidence from ESENER-2
● Dr Timo Leino (Finnish Institute of Occupational Health) — Predictive Health and New Technologies in OHS
● Prof. Ivan Robertson (Robertson Cooper Ltd / University of Manchester) — Psychological wellbeing at work
● Prof. Panayota Sourtzi (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens; FOHNEU Board) — Harmonising OHN education: the revised FOHNEU Core Curriculum
● Dr Jukka Takala (President, International Commission on Occupational Health) — Burden of occupational disease and injury in the EU and worldwide
Alongside the keynotes, the scientific programme featured 35 oral presentations and 46 posters.
Pre-Congress Tour: Future Land
Delegates arriving early joined a pre-Congress tour to Future Land, the information centre for Maasvlakte 2 — the Port of Rotterdam's newly reclaimed land and one of the most modern harbour developments in Europe. The visit opened with an introduction by the Port of Rotterdam Authority and a presentation on the health, safety and environmental inspections carried out during construction, followed by a sightseeing boat tour of the new harbour and reclaimed land.
Social and Cultural Programme
The Congress social programme brought delegates together beyond the scientific sessions. A Welcome Reception was held on the first evening at Rotterdam City Hall, hosted by a representative of the Rotterdam City Council. On the second evening, delegates boarded “De Majesteit,” the largest paddle steamer in Europe, for a Cruise and Dance Dinner Party sponsored by V&VN in celebration of its 70th anniversary. Throughout the Congress, host Mark — a mime and comedy performer twice nominated for the Dutch Mime Award — and hostesses Marcelle and Jolanda of “Verrassend Jo & Co” kept the atmosphere warm and welcoming for guests from all 17 participating countries.
Programme Booklet and Presentations
Presentations (see a list with presentations)
Opening Ceremony President’s Statement (pdf)
Closing Speech, Styliani Tziaferi, President FOHNEU (pdf)
The Closing Ceremony
