Wellness & Safety Equals Healthy Occupational Performance

Wellness & Safety equals Healthy Occupational Performance

November 2011 By Debi Jefferson, Wellness Consultant

Workplace safety and wellness programs benefit • Higher rates of chronic disease and increased employers and their employees. While the programs costs of treatment, which highlights the can be implemented independently of each other, importance of effective prevention and disease there are proven enhanced results when the two are management programs. combined into one overarching Employee Health, • Telecommuting and a 24/7 accessibility mindset, Safety, and Wellness program. Research indicates which is eroding the distinction between illness that integrated programs result in a healthier, more or injury sustained at work and elsewhere. productive workplace. Benefits to the employer include better employee retention rates, reduced • An aging U.S. workforce that faces increased costs associated with high turnover (such as training), health and wellness challenges, and employers fewer instances of sick leave and disability claims, who are seeking ways to increase work longevity increased productivity, and improved quality of in order to benefit from older employees’ products and services. experience, wisdom, and commitment. Given the current financial outlook, these trends Our ideas about a healthy workplace have evolved are not going away in the foreseeable future and from an almost exclusive focus on the physical work businesses are well advised to consider ways to environment (primarily on-the-job safety concerns) mitigate health related costs for the company and its to a more holistic concept that encompasses employees. The combined safety and wellness program psychosocial and personal health factors. One can be an integral part of a company’s plan. result is that the workplace is increasingly used as a setting for the promotion of employee wellness An integrated program functions as a holistic program and preventive health activities. This new focus is that responds to a wide range of objectives. Elements comprehensive in scope, encompassing assessment of a comprehensive program may include job safety and improvement of employees’ overall health in initiatives and efforts to create cultures of health addition to occupational injury prevention. It includes and safety; early recognition and treatment of injury an increasing emphasis on programs that support and or illness; disability prevention and return to work accommodate older workers and those with chronic programs; assessment of worker health status; a diseases or disabilities. The expanded concept of proactive response to personal health risks; emergency a healthy workplace aligns with the World Health preparedness planning; and behavioral health and Organization’s definition of health as a state of environment safety issues. While these may appear complete physical, mental and social well-being, and to be diverse, unrelated activities, they are aimed at not merely the absence of disease. the same goals: promoting overall employee health and preventing workplace injuries and illnesses. The Several important business trends underscore the growing body of evidence makes a strong argument for need for an integrated approach to safety and an integrated approach. Programs that address health wellness programs that reflect our broadened risks from work (both physical and psychosocial) and definition of health: individual risks (such as diet and smoking) are more • Healthcare costs have risen faster than wages effective in protecting and improving employee health and corporate profits, causing many employers to than traditional isolated programs. Parker Smith & cut back on health benefits and employees to pay Feek has internally named this program H.O.P.E. = more for their healthcare. Healthy Occupational Performing Engaged Employees

• Corporate mergers, restructuring, and job With an integrated program in place, an employer insecurity that have often led to increased can evaluate a problem from a viewpoint that work hours and greater job responsibilities for takes all the components of a healthy workplace employees, resulting in added health risk factors. into consideration. For example, if musculoskeletal

2233 112th Avenue NE | Bellevue, WA 98004 | 425.709.3600 | 4000 Old Seward Hwy., Suite 200 | Anchorage, AK 99503 | 907.562.2225 | www.psfinc.com disorders are occurring among people working in • The type of industry may complicate integration a clinical setting, the employer can examine the because safety requirements can be subject to ergonomics of the work process/station and correct complex laws and governmental oversight. In any hazardous physical conditions. However, there may some cases, it may be best to keep the safety be additional contributors to the problem that need and wellness programs as separate entities. If to be considered, such as psychosocial issues related so, it would be beneficial to include at least to workload and time pressures, or personal health one person from the safety committee, or its issues related to employees’ physical fitness or obesity. leadership, on the wellness committee. This In addition to the ergonomic solution, an onsite 30- will help keep the lines of communication open minute core conditioning class three times a week regarding mutual goals and effective means of might be effective for reducing these disorders. achieving them.

In my role as a Health Management Consultant, I • In the healthcare industry, the most common work with our Benefits clients to determine if a hurdle is how to implement the integrated combined safety and wellness program is the best committee. Established committees for fit for their organization. There are several factors safety, quality assurance, human resources, that an employer will want to consider. One is the and employee health typically have budgets cost of prevention programs vs. the costs resulting for safety and well-being programs. All four from employee accidents and illnesses. Another is committees can potentially contribute resources the financial penalties associated with violations of to a blended committee. A key to success for health, safety, and occupational rules and laws. The healthcare organizations will be a collaborative third important consideration is the value of employee management of the changes that is inclusive of health as a business asset. This final consideration is all existing committees. identified by most program committees as essential for While the creation of an Employee Health, Safety, maximizing the effectiveness of a combined safety and and Wellness program in whatever format that is wellness program. As such, an important component in suitable for your company may take some effort, it the establishment and perpetuation of the program is will undoubtedly prove worthwhile. Health is one of senior management’s adoption of a health, safety and the most important and complex issues faced by our well-being “filter” in all corporate decisions. country today, and the workplace has a central role to play. Depending upon a company’s current programs, the creation of a combined Employee Health, Safety, and Integrating workplace wellness, health, and safety Wellness program can be a challenging process: supports a holistic approach to health and I encourage you to join this new approach. Start by conceptualizing • If two separate committees for safety and how integration may work for your company: take a wellness are already established, you will need look at the “big picture’” and potential blending of to plan on several meetings to discuss the your existing committees and resources. mechanics of integrating the two programs. A strong facilitator is important for this process, which should include some thoughtful attention to goals for the combined program. • If the company has only a safety committee in place, adding the wellness component can be fairly smooth since the wellness initiatives can draw upon the same resources, including the history of what has engaged and motivated employees in the safety program.