JULY 2007
OH&S FIREWALL
Download the ebook, Best Practice in Occupational Health and Fitness.
WANT TO KNOW THE KEY TO LOWERING
WORKERS' COMPENSATION COSTS?
WANT TO KNOW THE KEY TO ENHANCING WORKPLACE PRODUCTIVITY?
BUILD A FIREWALL BETWEEN
DYSFUNCTIONS AND INJURIES
A couple of months ago when I was running a Crookback Clinic I was talking to the group about the need to make the distinction between injuries and dysfunctions when the idea of the OH&S firewall came into my head, completely out of the blue.
The more I thought about it the more I became convinced that the OH&S firewall model provides a sound and easily understandable justification for developing a health, fitness and wellbeing culture within an organisation.
It's win win.
A win for employers and a win for staff.
Once you start treating non-work-related body symptom dysfunctions as injuries you stand the risk of your worker's compensation fund ending up as a branch of Medicare. It's open slather.
SO WHAT ARE THE MAJOR NON-WORK-RELATED
BODY SYSTEM DYSFUNCTIONS?
I'm not sure, but here are the symptoms.
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SYMPTOMS OF PERSONALLY GENERATED BODY SYSTEM DYSFUNCTIONS |
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Metabolic |
Musculo-skeletal |
Psychological |
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- aerobically unfit - over-weight - high blood pressure - depression - sleeplessness - snoring - sleep apnoea - headache - tired, lacking energy - low libido - diabetes - elevated blood fats - elevated cholesterol - cardiac insufficiency - irritable bowel - cancer - ...
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- musculo-skeletal pain - bones out of alignment - arthritis - bone inflammation - lack of strength - lack of flexibility - lack of mobility - torn ligaments - torn tendons - torn muscles - bulging discs - sciatica - ... |
- stress - anxiety - irritability - difficulty coping - depression |
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When the symptoms disappear, it's the sign that poor function has been restored to good - you're fit and healthy. And, keep in mind that it's a very big ask in our culture expecting to stay healthy without keeping fit.
HOW DO YOU CONSTRUCT THE FIREWALL?
You construct the firewall by running a modern, comprehensive, regular and systematic health, fitness and wellbeing program - one that prevents non-work and privately generated body system dysfunctions from becoming dressed up as work-induced injuries, the treatment of which is paid for by the employer.
All of our studies indicate that in dealing with metabolic, musculo-skeletal and psychological dysfunctions people need more than just white coat advice. They need track suit advice as well. It's a big ask expecting to get better by having someone do something to you; sooner or later you have to do something to yourself.
They also respond to personal development and career development so they're not only becoming fitter and healthier but they're growing and developing as human beings.
Here's the holistic occupational health, fitness and wellbeing model.
WHAT DOES BUILDING THE FIREWALL INVOLVE?
Building the firewall involves: -
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Identifying the risk, particularly by checking out whether you have a problem with absenteeism, presenteeism, workers' compensation and/or staff retention. |
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Measuring the risk by conducting a range of health and fitness climate surveys and risk audits - much of which can be done in groups and some of it online. |
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Managing the risk with a continuous program of health and fitness assessments, seminars, motivational events ... for all staff. Unless it's obligatory the self absorbed, the workaholics, the unfit and those most at risk won't take part. You won't manage your risk. You'll do your dough.
It involves developing a health, fitness and wellbeing culture within your organisation, top, bottom and sides. The health, fitness and wellbeing of your staff is commensurate with the value your organisation places on health, fitness and wellbeing.
It involves rewarding good behaviour. Most OH&S systems reward poor behaviour with days off and rub downs! |
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Establishing a feedback loop. It's a continuous process. You won't get much joy from one offs. |
HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?
Miller Health conducts a range of health, fitness, career satisfaction and stress risk assessments from which we produce risk audits and health climate surveys. The survey results identify the key health issues that need to be addressed within the organisation.
At the moment our research strongly indicates that the main driver of non-work generated body system dysfunction is a lack of physical fitness - aerobic fitness, strength, flexibility and mobility. Check this out for yourself by looking at some our recent results, particularly the sample health climate survey.
We conduct seminars designed to inspire and motivate your staff to keep themselves fit and healthy to the best of their ability. Click here to view our list of programs.
Then it's win win.
Your staff win. They become fitter and healthier: they feel better. They've got more energy and vitality. That provides them with even more incentive to be involved in a continuous, systematic corporate wellness program.
Your organisation wins. You've stopped people putting their hand in the workers' comp pocket. There's less absenteeism and presenteeism - all measurable.
WHAT DOES IT COST?
It doesn't cost anything.
It's an investment, not a cost.
It saves money.
Add up the current cost of absenteeism and worker's compensation. Imagine if you could cut the costs by half. There's your target; year, after year, after year.
If you're interested or want to know more about how to construct an OH&S firewall in your organisation, complete the contact form and I'll get back to you.
Or call (02) 6288 7703
In the meantime stay tuned, highly tuned and remember you can't solve a 21st Century HEALTH problem with a 20th Century SAFETY solution.
Regards
John Miller
(02) 6288 7703
If you no longer wish to receive this stuff just send me an email and I'll take you off the list. If there is someone else in your organisation you'd like me to send it to, I'd appreciate it if you could let me know their name, phone number and email address.