What’s your New Year’s Resolution?
Times might be hard right now, but firms should still make a resolution to keep their staff healthy and safe in 2010, says the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)
While many of us will make individual resolution’s to get fitter or healthier, IOSH said that businesses too should make a New Year Resolution to play their part to cut the 180 deaths, over 130,000 injuries and 1.2 million cases of ill-health caused by work last year.
The President of IOSH said that employers should also be encouraging employees who’ve made resolutions to improve their health to stick to them:
“If a member of staff has resolved to give up smoking or to improve their fitness, then support from their employer can make a huge difference in helping them stick to their healthier lifestyle.
“The workplace is a great place to encourage people to live safe and healthy lives. Work is good for your health – provided you’re not under excessive pressure or in a working environment where risks with your safety are routinely taken.”
IOSH is calling on businesses to make a resolution this year to:
- promote work life balance by discouraging long working hours
- promote good safety culture
- clamp down on workplace bullying
- create opportunities to enjoy a healthy lifestyle
The President added that firms could help their staff to enjoy a healthier lifestyle by:
- allowing more flexible working
- encouraging walking or cycling to work
- offering healthy alternatives, like fruit, at meetings & working lunches
- promoting staff discounts at local leisure centres and health clubs
- encouraging employees to set up and attend support groups or clubs, such as weight loss or sports activities.
