act healthy workers program commonwealth safety management forum 22 february 2012
DESCRIPTION
ACT Healthy Workers Program Commonwealth Safety Management Forum 22 February 2012. Merryn Hare Director, Health Promotion Branch Population Health Division ACT Government Health Directorate. Presentation will cover. Origins of workplace health promotion - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
ACT Healthy Workers Program
Commonwealth Safety Management Forum
22 February 2012
Merryn HareDirector, Health Promotion BranchPopulation Health DivisionACT Government Health Directorate
Presentation will cover
Origins of workplace health promotion Best practice workplace health promotion Benefits of workplace health Policy context for ACT program ACT formative work Available programs and future directions Call for feedback from Forum participants
Why healthy workplaces?
• Workplaces are recognised nationally and internationally (WHO) as an important setting to address the rising levels of chronic disease
• Approximately one third of adult life is spent at work
• Employers can influence behaviour by providing a supportive environment to improve healthy lifestyle behaviours
Key elements of best practice workplace health promotion
Leadership• Promote active leadership of senior
management in health and wellbeing initiativesCulture• Align health and wellbeing goals with business
strategy and OH&S• Create a supportive environment and culture
focused on health and wellbeing
Key elements of best practice cont.
People• Target interventions based on unique characteristics
of employee population• Offer incentives to encourage participation and better
outcomes• Use targeted and ongoing mass communication Process• Establish an evaluation and monitoring program to
measure change, outcomes and financial impact• Collaborate with external parties through public-private
partnerships
Benefits to employers of investing in workplace health
Increased productivity Increased staff morale, job satisfaction, motivation Decreased workplace stress Reduced sick leave and absenteeism Increased ability to attract/retain employees Improved corporate citizenship and image Fewer workers compensation claims Decreased insurance premiums
Walking at lunchtime
Policy context
Govt push to reduce chronic disease risk factors through workplaces
ACT Healthy Future – Preventative Health Program (workplace health $: 2009-12)
COAG NPA on Preventive Health (NPAPH)
(HW initiative $: 2011-2015)
Overarching program directions and objectives
Aim: to reduce the risk of chronic disease for individuals of working age currently in paid employment in the ACT, by supporting positive healthy lifestyle behaviour change through the workplace setting, including:
•increasing physical activity levels;
•healthier eating behaviours; •smoking reduction/cessation; •reduction of harmful alcohol consumption; •maintenance of healthy weight; and•improved stress management.
Healthy taste tests
ACT HW program development Stakeholder workshop – Nov 2009 Established Advisory Group – Feb 2010 Workplace Health Promotion Needs Analysis
(PwC) – completed Feb 2011 E-newsletter to keep stakeholders informed ACT Healthy@Work Pilot in five sites – Sept
2010 to Oct 2011 +18 month evaluation Capacity building grants for providers – 9
successful organisations
Needs analysis – ACT workforce
Approx 220,500 workers in the ACT employed by over 11,000 employers
58% of ACT workers employed by large organisations (>200 workers), compared to 21% nationally.
41% of ACT workers employed in the public sector, compared to 14% nationally
http://health.act.gov.au/health-services/population-health/health-promotion-branch/healthy-workers/
ACT workforce cont.
31% of ACT employers classified in the Property & Business Services industry, compared to 20% nationally
47% of ACT workers in white collar occupations, compared to 34% nationally
18% of ACT workers in blue collar occupations, compared to 32% nationally
ACT worker lifestyle risk factors
56% overweight/obese (compared to 60% nationally)
93% inadequate veg consumption (92% nat) 48% inadequate fruit consumption (51% nat) 65% inadequate physical activity (70% nat)
ACT worker lifestyle risk factors
20% smokers (22% nat) 48% consume alcohol on a single occasion at
harmful levels (compared to 47% nationally) 32% report moderate to high levels of
psychological distress (31% nat)
Blue collar lifestyle risk factors
Of blue collar ACT workers: 43% smoke (20% ACT) 58% have inadequate fruit intake (48% ACT) 34% have a lifetime risk for alcohol (23% ACT) 84% report at least 2 unhealthy behaviours
(70% ACT)
Targeting specific health and wellbeing needs in the ACT
large public sector workforce small and medium enterprise employers –
equitable approach workforce segments – blue collar workers
poor risk profile + almost half are white collar modifiable lifestyle risk factors – high
prevalence
ACT Healthy@Work Pilot
13 month pilot in five diverse ACT workplaces.
Strategies to address: individual lifestyle and behavioural
factors of employeesworkplace capacity and
readiness to be health promoting environments.
Tools for use in workplaces have also been tested e.g. employee survey and audit tool.
Implementation phase completed in October 2011
Pilot evaluation
Process evaluation report (Dec 2011) – findings: Employees feel employers care more about
their health and wellbeing – 76%, up from 52% Increases in health knowledge, with some
reported behaviour change Management identified benefits to work
cultures, with expected reduced staff turnover
Early outcomes evaluation report due late March
HW Implementation Plan - general
Workplace Health Support and Facilitation Service – WorkSafe ACT
Supporting resources: website, guides, tools, policy templates – for all workplaces
Training for workplace health coordinators (Comcare)
Mentoring/leadership program Financial incentives/
support for high risk workplaces
Active travel
HW Implementation Plan cont. Social Marketing Engagement strategy for ACT public sector ACT public sector policy work Service Evaluation Health of the ACT Survey – additional
questions on workplace health
Achieve a work/life balance
National soft infrastructure
Joint Statement of Commitment - Promoting Good Health at Work
Healthy Workers Quality Framework
- Principles for Promoting Good Health at Work
- Healthy Lifestyle Provider Registration
- Healthy Lifestyle Program Registration
Healthy Workers web portal National Awards Program
Useful links and apps
• Swap It: http://swapit.gov.au/resources/downloads• iPhone app that rates nearly 20,000 supermarket items with
red, orange or green ratings for their fat, sugar and salt content: http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/smartphone-apps/phone-app-gives-consumers-green-light-on-food-buys-20120117-1q4sy.html#ixzz1jmeZYb9n
• NHS website for couch to 5k:
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/couch-to-5k.aspx • ACT Workplace Health and Wellbeing e-newsletter:
http://health.act.gov.au/health-services/population-health/health-promotion-branch/healthy-workers/
Your feedback
Who is doing what? How are programs informed? Any innovative approaches? Challenges/barriers? Data collection? Interest in sharing learnings? Interest in joining WorkSafe ACT network?
Mentoring? Case studies?