Control over own work is an important health intervention
Influence is one of the most important keys to a healthy and productive workplace. This point is made by Dr. L. Casey Chosewood and Dr. Anita L. Schill from the American National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in their keynote speech at the Wellbeing at Work Conference, in Copenhagen the 26th to 28th of May.
– The most desirable perk today’s busy workers are looking for is greater flexibility. Workers want more control over when, where and how they accomplish work. This is an amazingly important health intervention. It frees up people to find the best ways to address and improve their health. Greater flexibility is the best antidote for our stressful lives, says Dr. L. Casey Chosewood, Senior Medical Officer at NIOSH.
“If they build it they will come”
The two program managers lead the Total Worker Health research-to-practice program. The program advocates for integrating occupational safety and health protection and health promotion to prevent worker injury and illness and to advance health and wellbeing.
– Workers also need a voice in what programs are offered and how they are designed. It’s not “if you build it they will come.” It’s really “if they build it they will come.” A participatory approach to designing, implementing and evaluating the success of all workplace health interventions is of paramount importance, explains Dr. L. Casey Chosewood.
Top companies include workers
According to the program managers top companies are already combining health protection and health promotion with self-management.
Examples include coupling respirator protection programs with tobacco cessation services, providing safety seminars and trainings that address both work and home risks, and offering screenings for chronic health conditions such as diabetes, depression, high blood pressure and high cholesterol as part of routine placement or clearance exams.
– These approaches keep services fresher and more appealing to workers and enhance overall health in a more inclusive way, says Dr. L. Casey Chosewood.
Learn the details on Total Worker Health Program website:
www.cdc.gov/niosh/twh
(Source: niva.org)
