Scotland's Health at Work is a national award scheme which rewards an organisation's efforts and achievement in building a healthy workforce and a healthy workplace. The scheme, which ensures that health is built into the organisation, can make a positive contribution to increasing productivity and efficiency within a workplace as well as improving the health of all people in Scotland.
The scheme operates by granting a workplace an award at 3 levels, Bronze, Silver and Gold, after a set of criteria has been fulfilled. An example of a core criteria at Bronze level is the workplace must provide information on relevant health issues on a regular basis. At Silver level, the organisation must carry out a health needs assessment as well as implementing policies on alcohol/drugs misuse, provision of healthy food choices and the promotion of physical activity. At Gold level the organisation must develop a one-year action plan as well as a 3-year strategy for health based on identified needs.
Scotland's Health at Work is designed to encourage, support and recognise workplaces who take an active role in the promotion of good health. Many employers in Dumfries and Galloway have been keen to begin addressing the issues and are already exploring and assessing the health needs of their employees.
Dumfries and Galloway is made up of mainly small to medium sized companies and the scheme is flexible enough to benefit all sizes of organisations whether they employ 5 or 5,000 staff.
Since the launch of Scotland's Health at Work over 5 years ago, there are now 40 businesses in Dumfries and Galloway working to enhance health and well-being of their staff through this national award scheme. There are now 11 organisations region-wide with a Bronze award, 2 with Silver and 2 with Gold.
The Dumfries and Galloway Health Promotion Department are currently developing a proposal around workplace health in general, focusing on the voluntary sector and small to medium-sized companies to address the social inclusion agenda.
For further information contact:
HANIA PROUDFOOT
Health Promotion Officer/SHAW Area Co-ordinator
Dumfries & Galloway Health Promotion Department
Nithbank
Dumfries DG1 2SD
Tel: 01387 244503
A group with representatives from 5 health promotion departments - Lothian, Grampian, Greater Glasgow, Lanarkshire and Tayside - has collectively created and developed the new concept for this year's Scotland's Health at Work Week. Details of the new format are outlined below. We would appreciate help from all health board areas in terms of support, local awareness and encouraging all of your local Scotland's Health at Work clients to register to take part in the Week. We are delighted that our partners in the Week will be BAA Scottish Airports, BP, and management consultancy Well Workplace.
Andrew Cubie, Chairman of Scotland's Health at Work, launched the Week to the media on 28 June at Edinburgh Airport and all clients should have received their copies of this year's marketing pack in July. This is full of ideas, case studies and instructions on how to take part in the Week.
You are invited to be part of a party!
Scotland's Health at Work Week 2001 aims to be bigger and better than ever, and will help organisations promote a health topic of their choice in their workplace in whatever way they want, celebrate the 5th birthday of Scotland's Health at Work by joining up with over 600 organisations and 500,000 employees in Scotland who are enjoying all the benefits of a healthier, productive workforce!
For the last 3 years Scotland's Health at Work Week (formerly called The Max) has focused on physical activity and encouraging employees to be more active, more often. This year, in response to feedback from workplaces, we are aiming to make it easier for everyone in the workplace to get involved no matter what size of organisation.
For the 5th birthday organisations are invited to choose from five topics to be promoted during the Week:
These are men's health, women's health, family health, stress and mental health, and heart health (perhaps linked to the five daily portions of fruit and veg?)
There are currently 607 workplaces across all health board areas registered on the scheme, with 247 bronze, 72 silver and 29 gold awards achieved since the launch five years ago, equating to 19 % of the Scottish working population.
A full briefing pack has been sent to all registered organisations in all areas in July. Please also check HYPERLINK http://www.shaw.uk.com for further details.
For further information on Scotland's Health at Work Week, please contact:
ANDREA WHITESIDE
Health Promotions
Grampian
Tel: 01224 551357
email: andrea.whiteside@health-promotions.com