Work health

Alison AbbottSenior Advisor, Healthy Workers InitiativeWorkplace Health and Safety Queensland

Making a difference in regional Queensland Workplaces

Healthy Workers Initiative - Qld

•Workplace Health and Safety Queensland funded by Department of Health under Healthier.Happier.Workplaces program*, expires December 2015.

•Smoking, Nutrition, Alcohol, Physical Activity, Obesity + Mental Health (SNAPOM)

•All industry

– targeted initiatives for priority industries in Construction, Transport, Manufacturing, Mining, Agriculture, Public Service and Small Business

*Initially funded under National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health 2011-2015

SMOKING

HEALTHY EATING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

ALCOHOL OBESITY

WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY QUEENSLAND – Healthy Workers Initiative

THE STORY SO FAR…

3 Grant Rounds 101 Recipients 49,000 plus workers

83 Professional

Development Forums758 organisations 1331 attendees

22 Leadership Forums 952 organisations 1918 attendees

8 Research Initiatives

In Transport, Construction & Agriculture Industries

$2,280,000Invested

2,597 Workplaces

66,270 Workers

OUR AIM IS TO REDUCE CHRONIC DISEASE RISK FACTORS BY:

Funded by the Queensland Funded by the Queensland Government underGovernment under

Healthier. Happier. Healthier. Happier. WorkplacesWorkplaces

A Queensland Government initiative

June 2011 to September

2015

MENTAL HEALTH

What Queenslanders really look like……

1 in 5 adults reported a mental health disorder in their lifetime. Anxiety & depressive disorders most prevalent. Suicide leading cause of death in young people

Obesity65% of adults are overweight or obese. 22% in 4 years & is the highest in Australia

Type 2 Diabetes1 in 12 Queenslanders has type 2 diabetes 1 undiagnosed case for every 4 diagnosed.

Cancer1/3 of the total burden of cancer was due to preventable risk factors - tobacco, physical activity, obesity & alcohol the largest causes.

Mental Health

414,000 businesses

1,243,500 workers

http://www.health.qld.gov.au/CHO_report

Risk factors in the agriculture industries

Category NationalAgriculture, fisheries

and forestry

Current smoker 22% 20%Inadequate fruit and vegetable intake 49% 40%

Physical inactivity 71% 70%

BMI measured: Overweight or obese 59% 64%

BMI measured: Obese 23% 26%

Waist circumference (increased or high risk) 55% 63%

Waist circumference (high risk)31% 47%

Alcohol increased lifetime risk24% 30%

• Family home• Core employees -

family members• Itinerate travellers • Number of

employees varies• Season, weather

conditions, prices, supply and demand

Farm as a workplace

Partnership in tropical paradise

• Diabetes Queensland• Growcom• WHSQ Healthy Workers Initiative

WHY? - Health status of Cassowary Coast residents

• 60.9% of people are overweight or obese• 62% of people perform insufficient physical

activity for health benefit• 11.4% of people smoke daily• 59.5% eat the recommended serves of fruit

each day• 12% eat the recommended serves of

vegetables each day.

Queensland Health Self-reported Health Status Data

2009-2010 for the Cassowary Coast Regional Council area

Healthier Happier Workplaces – key components

5 Step Framework

• Identify why H&WB programs are important to you

• Understand existing programs, policies, benefits

• Develop a shared vision

Step 1 – Management commitment

Stage 2 – Wellness planning

• Coordination of the program

• Health and Wellbeing committee

• Worker engagement

• Healthy People – AUSDRISK Assessment

• Healthy Workplace Scan (Modified Healthy Places survey)

• Prioritise the needs

Step 3 – Needs Assessment

• Eat It*• 10,000 Steps Program*• Get Healthy Information & Coaching Service• Workplace Quit Smoking Program • Information and Resources

Step 4- Action Plan

• Reassess needs assessment tools:– AUSDRISK – Healthy Places Scan

• Detailed Evaluation plan developed: surveys, focus groups, review initial audits and compare before and after

Step 5 – Evaluation and review

Results for farms

Healthy Workers•Improved chronic disease risk factors with 66% of participants reducing their risk of type 2 diabetes

•Increase in fruit and vegetable consumption

•Increase in confidence in reading food labels

•Increase in healthy lifestyle communication between employer and employees

Healthy Workplaces

•All farms developed and implemented a:

– Workplace Health and Wellbeing policy

– Smoke Free Workplace policy

•Positive changes in managers’ attitudes

– Removal of vending machines or provision of healthier options

– Provision of healthier food and drink choices at celebrations

Category 7: Queensland Safe Work Awards 2014

Best workplace health and wellbeing initiative

Liverpool River Bananas and LMB Farming

2 farms achieved Healthier. Happier. Workplaces Bronze recognition

Results for farms

Video: Get Active with LMB bananas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTjnExTJF48

Key learnings

• Partnerships were vital to the success of the project

• LWFW demonstrated a good practice wellness approach can be successful

• Flexibility, consultation and expertise to modify tools and templates

• Ready made programs and environmental changes equally important

• Supported DQ’s ability to reach an often inaccessible target group

• Supported Growcom in promoting the link on farm between wellness and productivity in the horticulture industry

Resources

• Health & Wellbeing Policy template

• Healthy Farm Scan• Healthy people

discussion questions• Action Plan and

Evaluation templates• 5 webinars• 2 videos

http://www.growcom.com.au/live-well-farm-well

Modified for broader reach

• Small/medium business industries

• Greater reach• Checklist in line with

safety principles and practice

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• WHSQ Work Health website www.worksafe.qld.gov.au

• Healthier.Happier. Workplaceshttp://workplaces.healthier.qld.gov.au/

For more information