Workplace Health and Safety Queensland Work Health: Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace Workplace...

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland www.worksafe.qld.gov.au

Work Health: Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland

April BennettsSenior Advisor, Healthy Workers InitiativeT: 3247 4786M: 0467 796 559E: [email protected]


Top issues within transport industry

• Workers have sustained highest injury incidence rate (Australia)

• Highest serious claim rates (QLD)– Most injuries: muscular stress/falls/ vehicle accidents

• Highest prevalence of health risk behaviours (Australia and QLD)


Benefits of worker health

• Did you know that fit health workers of normal weight have:– Increased alertness and decreased fatigue

– Improved ability to solve problems

– Better productivity

– Take less sick leave

– Lower risk of injury and fewer workers compensation claims

– Improved health and wellbeing and lower health care costs

– Decreased risk of sleep apnoea

In short, healthier workers are good for business!


Making worker health a priority

Workplace health and wellbeing initiativesWorkplace health and wellbeing initiatives

Aims to:

• Improve health of workers (positive business outcomes)

• Make healthy choices easy choices

Considers:

• Work environment impact

• Integrates with existing health and safety systems


The impacts of work on worker health

Work Related Risk Factors

Obesity (physical

inactivity/ poor nutrition)

Job stress / lack of job control / time pressures (lack of time)

Shift work

Long work hours / lack of work-life balance

Lack of access and availability to store, obtain, and prepare health foods

Sedentary work

Organisational culture (e.g. lack of support for healthy lifestyles)


Integrating workplace health, wellbeing and safety

ComplianceWork Health and Safety Act 2011

A PCBU (person conducting a business or undertaking) must:• “… ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and

safety of their workers while they are at work”• “provide and maintain a work environment without risks to the

health of workers”

Workers:• have a responsibility “to take reasonable care for their own health

and safety and to comply with reasonable safety instructions”


www.healthyworkers.gov.au


Guiding principles

• Integrated commitment and vision

• Joint consultation and

communication

• Environmental audit

• Cross-disciplinary approach

• Shared monitoring, evaluation and reporting


Queensland Workplaces for Wellness Initiative (QW4WI)

• Part of the National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health

• Chronic disease prevention through the workplace setting – SNAPO risk factors

• Workplace Health & Safety Queensland (WHSQ): partnering with Queensland Health to implement

• WHSQ focus: blue collar industries including transport and storage



WHSQ grants•Targeting industry bodies, unions, workplace consortiums and not for profit organisations.

http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/workers/healthy-workers/funding-program/index.htm

Advisory and coaching service and professional development course•Provide advice and skill development to employers to implement health and wellbeing activities



Awareness and education•eSafe •Online materials for use by safety/employers: includes Work Health Planning resource

Workplace Quit Smoking Program

Support for workplaces•Workplace tool kit•Webportal information and tools•Recognition scheme


“If our most important asset is our employees,

then how can we build workplaces to let them know that we care about and support

their health and wellbeing?”

Conclusion


Thank You

For more information visit:Workplace Health and Safety Queenslandhttp://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/workers/healthy-workers/index.htm

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland Work Health: Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace Workplace...

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