Workplace health promotion is concerned with improving the health and well-being of people at work and creating health promoting workplaces. It has many benefits for both employers and employees, including increased morale, reduced illness & absence from work, and reduced staff turnover.

Workplace health Promotion focuses on three main areas;

1. Seeks to improve the Work Environment and Work Conditions
e.g. Occupational health & safety, ergonomic workplaces

2. Focuses on the Organisation Culture & Policies
e.g Communication, Policies such as Family- Friendly policy, Stress prevention policy

3. Incorporates Health Awareness in the Workplace
e.g. Promotion of healthy food choices in the canteen

The characteristics of Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) are:-

• that it is Pro-active

• that it focuses on the ‘Whole Health’ of workers not just physical health

• that it is a Balanced approach balancing initiatives that focus on individuals with those that focus on the work environment

• Management Commitment and Employee Participation are key to the success of WHP

• WHP should be Needs based – responding to identified needs of employees & needs assessment should be included in WHP projects

What Health Promotion Offers You

The team of the Health Promotion Department of the North Western and Western Health Board includes three regional health promotion officers with a specific remit for workplace health promotion, covering the public and private sectors. These Health Promotion Officers are available to assist your workplace in developing a Workplace Health Promotion Plan.

More specifically the role of these team members includes:-

1. Working in partnership with intermediary organisations and other groups to develop workplace health promotion in the region, and to create infrastructures of support for workplaces

2. Working directly with workplaces in the region (public & private sector)

• Linking with key personnel in the workplace
• Providing advice and support re- planning, implementation and evaluation of workplace health promotion initiatives
• Promoting best-practice from Ireland, Europe and Internationally
• Providing information on new programmes

3 Health Promotion Officers are available to your workplace to:-

• Provide a presentation on workplace health promotion as required to
  - management
  - key personnel (e.g. human resource officer, safety officers, EAO, occupational health personnel etc.)
  - employees
• Advise on setting up a workplace health promotion steering group or working with existing groups
• Attend meetings with steering groups to advise re- planning, implementation and evaluation of workplace health promotion initiatives, developing and adapting programmes to suit your workplace
• Advise & assist in carrying out a health promotion needs assessment with staff
• Provide a wide range of health education materials.
• To affirm and support the healthy lifestyle choices of workers by working to ensure health promoting environments
• Provide Training