How to Create and Maintain a Healthy Workplace
By Living Better on July 27, 2019
No matter how old you are, where you work, or how long you’ve been working there, workplace safety is something that affects us all. Ensuring a healthy workplace and a healthy and motivated workforce is essential for any business that wants to be performing as best as it possibly can. Healthier workers are happier and more productive – everyone wins.
Whether you are in charge of your workplace or not, you can still use your initiative and take the lead in implementing better practices for the safety and wellbeing of you and all the other staff. For workers who are over the age of 50, there are some specific pieces of advice that you might find useful.
Watch Out for Repetitive Strain Injuries
One of the most common injuries seen in individuals who spend much of their day working at a computer is repetitive strain injury, which can also cause carpal tunnel syndrome. As the name suggests, this type of injury arises from making the same repetitive movements throughout the day, even though those movements don’t strain the body at all.
Repetitive strain injury can be avoided by investing in mousepads and other office equipment that is designed to be ergonomic e.g. a mousepad with a raised area for the wrist to rest on. This small change makes a world of difference when it comes to RSI.
Work with Behavioral Healthcare Providers
There are a number of organizations and businesses who now offer their services to employers and other entities, such as governmental departments and public bodies. This page about population health management shows what these services look like and gives you an overview of the specific provisions involved.
Many businesses could benefit from instituting such a program in their place of work. Population health management providers can help your employees to set and achieve realistic health and lifestyle goals. They can also provide maternity support for pregnant employees; this support often includes the period before and after a child’s birth.
Encourage Healthy Eating
Many businesses in the US have already instituted a number of policies aimed at improving the diets of their employees. These measures, such as replacing junk food in vending machines with fruit and other healthier alternatives, have proven successful, leading some of the more hesitant businesses to bite the bullet and rethink their food options.
Encourage Movement
Whereas repetitive strain injury involves repeated movements, there are just as many dangers associated with not moving enough. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, adults should aim to do around 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every week. If your job involves sitting at a computer all day, look for opportunities to get up and move around. Even getting on your feet for just a few minutes can be the difference between being completely healthy and suffering for your immobility.
Healthy employees are happier and more productive. Not only is there compelling health and moral argument for ensuring that you lead a healthy workplace, but it also makes perfect business sense.
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