“Respiratory Allergies and Alertness: Strategies to Reduce Invisible Risks” is a multi-stakeholder initiative that highlights the often-overlooked link between respiratory allergies, alertness, and workplace safety. Bringing together scientific societies, occupational health experts, patient and consumer associations, and institutional stakeholders, the initiative resulted in a comprehensive document providing evidence-based guidance on managing allergy symptoms while preserving alertness. The initiative raises awareness of how both allergic symptoms and certain treatments can impact concentration, safety, and performance, particularly in high-risk professional environments. Through practical recommendations and broad dissemination, it promotes informed self-care and safer decision-making in everyday and work contexts.

Objectives

Respiratory allergies affect a significant share of the population but remain largely underestimated as a workplace safety factor. The initiative aims to address this gap by:

• Elevating respiratory allergies as a critical occupational safety issue
• Promoting effective symptom management while preserving alertness
• Raising awareness of the risks associated with sedating treatments in safety-critical roles
• Supporting informed decision-making through evidence-based guidance
• Encouraging integration of allergy and medication‑related risks into occupational health policies and training
• Fostering collaboration between scientific, institutional, and professional stakeholders

Target Audience

• Primary: Workers and professionals in safety-critical roles: workers in high-attention tasks (drivers, machine operators, workers at height, safety-critical positions); occupational physicians and workplace health & safety professionals (HSE managers, RSPP); employers and company leaders across high-risk sectors (transport, logistics, construction, public services, aviation, rail, postal services)
• Secondary: Multipliers and policy actors: institutions and policymakers (Parliament, INAIL, Ministry of Health); trade unions and professional associations; pharmacists and healthcare professionals; patient and consumer associations

Key Activities and Approach

The initiative combines scientific collaboration, awareness-raising, and policy engagement to address a critical health literacy gap.

• Multi-stakeholder collaboration: Creation of a multidisciplinary expert working group including allergologists, occupational physicians, scientific societies (SIAAIC, ANMA), INAIL researchers, patient associations, and consumer associations; Alliance building with companies & HSE professional
• Development of an evidence-based document: Providing practical recommendations on recognising allergens, reducing exposure, and managing symptoms safely
• Strategic launch and awareness: Official presentation on the World Day for Safety and Health at Work (28 April) to maximise visibility
• Scientific and professional dissemination: Ongoing promotion through congresses, seminars, webinars, and professional networks
• Policy and institutional engagement: Advocacy to integrate allergy and medication-related risks into occupational health frameworks, worker training programmes, and safety regulations.

The goal is to ensure that informed treatment choices become a recognised component of workplace safety standards in Italy and, potentially, across Europe.

Impact and Result

The initiative has achieved strong institutional recognition and engagement across the occupational health ecosystem:

• Institutional reach: Endorsed by Members of the Italian and European Parliament. The national association of HSE managers (AIAS) also endorsed the project and committed to expanding it through further research and training activities, strengthening its reach across the occupational safety ecosystem.
• Broad expert mobilisation: Active promotion of the document by scientific and professional communities through congresses and networks
• Clear evidence of unmet need: Survey data across ~168,500 workers shows low awareness and limited formal procedures on allergy-related risks
• Ongoing dissemination: Continued visibility through national congresses and seminars in allergology and occupational medicine. Additional awareness materials and dedicated webinars are in development
• Strong media outreach: Over 150 articles reaching an audience of up to 4 million people

The initiative contributes to positioning respiratory allergies as an integral component of workplace safety and health management.

Insights and Takeaways for Others

• Health conditions like allergies can have broader societal and safety implications beyond individual health. Respiratory allergies are not only a health issue but a workplace safety concern, especially in roles requiring continuous vigilance
• Many companies and institutions were unaware of the significant risk associated with sedating antihistamines, and welcomed clear, evidence-based guidance
• Cross-sector collaboration proved essential: combining science (allergology), workplace medicine (occupational health), patient insights, consumer protection and institutional voices (INAIL) created both credibility and reach. No single stakeholder could have achieved the same visibility or legitimacy alone
• Anchoring launch to an international awareness day (World Day for Safety and Health at Work, 28 April) significantly amplified institutional visibility and media resonance, while reinforcing the non-commercial, public-health framing of the initiative

Additional Resources and Contact

• Scientific report: Respiratory Allergies and Alertness: Strategies to Reduce Invisible Risks