Integrating workplace safety, health and wellbeing Diane Schultz Manager Healthy Workers Initiative Workplace Health and Safety Queensland

The health of Queenslanders For each additional chronic disease risk factor – 70% reduction in quality of life

65% of adults are overweight or obese (22% increase 2007/8 and 2011/12)

1/3 of total burden of cancer was due to preventable risk factors

43% of premature

150,000 businesses employing 1 or more

deaths are associated with 13 modified risk factors

1,243,500 workers 1 in 12 has type 2 diabetes; 1 undiagnosed case for every 4 diagnosed.

(15 & over) ABS – Labour Force – 6202.0 Oct 2014 Queensland Health. The Health of Queenslanders 2014. 5th report of the Chief Health Officer Queensland. Queensland Government. Brisbane

7% eat recommended daily serves of veg

Healthy Workers Initiative - Qld • Initially funded under National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health 2011-2015 • Department of Health – Healthier.Happier.Workplaces Initiative • Funded to June 2015 • Smoking, Nutrition, Alcohol, Physical Activity and Obesity + Mental Health, Sun safety • All industry focus

The case for integration

Workplace health and safety

Workplace health and wellbeing

The case for integration Work related factors (e.g. work demands, working hours) Personal factors (e.g. lifestyle habits, socioeco nomic status)

Health behaviours (e.g. smoking, nutrition)

Health outcomes (e.g. obesity, diabetes)

WHS performance (e.g. incidents, work comp)

Business outcomes (e.g. productivity loss, absenteeism, increased premiums)

OCC HEALTH RISKS

IMPACTS OF WORK ON HEALTH

CHRONIC DISEASE RISKS

IMPACTS OF HEALTH ON WORK

Physical

Skin cancer, burns, slips, contusions, amputations,

Smoking

↓ physical capability, cardiac conditions, compounding exposures

Chemical

Cancer, respiratory disease, asthma, allergies, dermatitis

Poor

Biological

Hepatitis, HIV, tetanus, Hendra virus, pandemic influenza, Q Fever, allergies

Environment

Fatigue, sick building syndrome, slips, trips and falls

Ergonomic

Back injury, sprains and strains, upper limb disorders

Mental

Work/home life imbalance, bullying, over/under work, ‘stress’, fatigue, harassment, isolation

Nutrition

↓stamina & immunity, risk of diabetes, fatigue, cardiac conditions

Alcohol

↑errors, mistakes, accidents, poor performance

↓physical capability, stamina, Low Physical flexibility, stress, poor muscle activity tone

Obesity

↓ manual handling capability, poor ergonomics, posture

Mental health

Poor decision making, rela�onships, ↓ performance, concentration, poor health choices

Mutual benefits

• Assist in keeping workers health and safe • Reduce illness and injury • Improve injury management and return-to-work outcomes • Strengthen business outcomes • Foster a positive workplace culture

It makes sense….

Privacy

Targets Individual

Silo approach

Not legislative

WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS? Scepticism

Cost

“Not our problem” mindset

“Nice to have”

Building a program for sustainability

• Integrate Safety Health and Wellbeing

• Our strategies: – Embed within WHS regulator processes – Industry leadership – Workplace systems based approach

Internal strategic links and stakeholders Regulatory (enforcement)

Advisory (engagement)

•

• Industry action plans

Legislation (state and national)

•

Inspectorate

•

Enforceable Undertaking

• Networks • Technical and Specialist programs i.e. Psychosocial (people at work) ergonomics (participative erg), leadership , injury prevention

Internal systems integration – Website presence – Compliance campaigns – Safe work week awards category – Online Safety Benchmarking Tool – Internal WHS reporting now includes health and wellbeing – Audit tools and checklists – WHSQ publications and newsletters

Internal engagement and capacity building – Review literature • Establish common terms/language • Develop resources demonstrating links between safety, health and wellbeing

– WHS Board and Industry Sector Standing Committees – Inspector briefing – Shared events – Infoline training

External stakeholders and partners – High risk industries/blue collar • Construction, Transport, Mining, Agricultural, Rural/Remote, Qld Public Service, Manufacturing, Small Business

– Peak industry bodies – Academic partners – Community partners i.e. non-government organisations – Industry leaders – Health care providers – WorkCover (workers compensation insurer)

Leadership in practice

Our key messages to workplaces

5-step framework

Our key messages to workplaces - Link goals to business priorities - Don’t create another silo – part of everyday business process - Management Commitment – resourcing and active participation - Needs assessment and planning – involve workers - Strategies include a mix of environmental, systems and individual - Measure success and report back - Individual achievements - Business outcomes

Support for implementation, awareness raising and capacity building 3 Grant Rounds

95 Recipients

80,000 plus workers

50 Professional

600 organisations

1067 attendees

428 organisations

630 attendees

In Transport, Construction & Agriculture Industries

$1.7 m Invested

Development Forums

8 Leadership Forums/workshops

8 Research Initiatives

Our learnings • • • •

Communicate in consistent language Use industry leaders/champions Top down and bottom up approach Focus on work related factors as well as individual • Provide education, awareness and capacity building • Sell the business benefits

Case study - Local Government Council Safe Work Awards 2014 - Commended

• Integrated within Zero Harm Safety Management System • Strategies: educational resources, end of trip facilities, gym access, participative ergonomics program, and interactive workshops

• Highlights: – – – –

Return on Investment 2.5:1 Lost time injury rate approx. 7days and dropping Return to work rate above 90% Management reported improved results in leadership and worker engagement in WHS audits – Employees reported increase in motivation to make positive behavior change and health awareness

Case study – Transdev – Sedentary work and ageing identified as key WHS risks – Integrated worker health programs to improve organisations safety culture – Strategies included: • • • • •

education on positive health behaviours, smoking health assessments physical activity – pedometer challenge nutrition – modified meal options

• CEO named Safe Work Australia Safety Ambassador of the Year in 2013

Research intervention - LMB farms Safe Work Awards 2014 – highly commended

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTjnEx TJF48

Where to from here… • Continue focus on work environment impacts + business outcomes • More research and resources addressing effectiveness of combining health, wellbeing and safety and strategies specific to industry and population groups • Integrate further with injury management processes • Blueprint for better health of Queenslanders (Queensland Plan)

For more information

• WHSQ Work Health website www.worksafe.qld.gov.au • Healthier.Happier. Workplaces http://workplaces.healthier.qld.gov.au/

What management is saying…. “Survey’s have shown progressive

improvements in the attitudes of workers towards health issues, increased awareness of health priorities and positive attitudes towards management support for health and safety.” Grant recipient, Manufacturing