Creating a healthy workplace - Publication launch

Thursday 5 January 2006

Health experts join with industry to launch guide
to workplace health

Sickness due to ill-health currently costs UK employers over £12 billion per year. Successful companies are increasingly recognising the link between prosperous businesses and healthy workplaces. But lack of straightforward information on resources and evidence of what works can be an obstacle for organisations.

Now the Faculty of Public Health and the Faculty of Occupational Medicine have brought together health experts and industry, led by Rolls-Royce, to produce a new guide called Creating a healthy workplace. The guide has been endorsed by the Trades Union Congress, employer organisations and a wide range of professional bodies.

Faculty of Public Health President, Professor Rod Griffiths said: “The business case for organising work to promote health is very strong. Work-related ill health is preventable and we need to ensure that people are protected. Creating a healthy workplace is for busy managers and employees in organisations of all sizes who need a reliable guide to practical steps they can take that will make a real difference to workplace health.”

Faculty of Occupational Medicine President , Dr David Snashall said: “Employers need to be aware not only of their legal responsibilities, but also, of how much they could improve the running of their business by such measures as having an effective sickness absence policy and by focusing on common workplace problems such as back pain and stress. Tackling these issues can seem daunting but this guide will point employers in the right direction.”

The national launch on Tuesday 10 th January is hosted by Rolls-Royce plc in Derby , where delegates from a range of public and private sector organisations will learn more about the company's workplace health initiatives.

Commenting on the guide, John Rivers, Director – Human Resources at Rolls-Royce said: “Companies should recognise the association between employees' health and their working effectively. The pursuit of business excellence requires us to promote and maintain the physical, mental and social wellbeing of all our people.”

Neil Budworth, President, Institution of Occupational safety and Health, says of the guide: “We fully support this initiative to help create safe and healthy workplaces. Employers, employees and health and safety professionals working together can achieve great improvements here.”

Copies of the leaflet will be available to order or download free of charge at www.fph.org.uk from 10 January. An on-line supplementary guide has also been produced for occupational safety and health professionals and employers.

ends

Notes to editors

The national launch at Rolls-Royce plc in Derby on 10 th January, 2 to 4pm, will be a networking event and will provide an opportunity to see some of Rolls-Royce's workplace health initiatives at first hand. For a media pass to the launch, contact Kate Annan, Rolls-Royce plc on 0207 227 9070.

For other general enquiries, or advance copies of the leaflet, contact Chloe Parkin , Faculty of Public Health on 0207 935 3115.

The Faculty of Public Health is an authoritative public health body which maintains and improves standards in the public health workforce to improve the health of the population. For further information visit the Faculty's website: www.fph.org.uk

The Faculty of Occupational Medicine promotes health in the workplace and develops and maintains high standards of training, competence and professional integrity in occupational medicine. For further information visit the Faculty's website: www.facoccmed.ac.uk

 

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