Index

28. TSAOBR AUGUST - DECEMBER 2010 - REPORT

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NEWSLETTER

FACT SHEETS

John Miller conducted a Health Management program for The Group in August 2010.

40 people, 39 men and 1 woman completed the following profiles: -

■ Health, Fitness and Wellbeing

■ Fitness

■ Musculo-skeletal risk

■ Career Satisfaction

■ Metabolic health

The assessments were conducted again in December 2010.

25 people, 24 men and 1 woman attended. 6 of these people were new employees who had not attended the August assessments.

The results are presented in graphic format, with commentary.

Click here to read what the assessments are all about  

HEALTH, FITNESS AND WELLBEING PROFILE

The Health, Fitness and Wellbeing profile provides people with a very good idea of how well the various systems of the body are functioning, particularly the

•      the mind

•      autonomic nervous system

•      immune system

•      digestive system

•      circulatory system

•      elimination system

•      musculo-skeletal system.

The score of a normal, fit and healthy human being is less than 20        

Higher scores are symptomatic of dysfunction of one or more body systems.

People with high levels of stress usually score well over 100.

For people with a score of more than 80, the ‘background noise’ of their life is becoming louder and louder. It is hard to concentrate on your work when body systems are dysfunctional.

We know a fit and healthy group when we see the majority of scores below 40. This was not the case with this group. By and large higher scores are usually a reflection of

•      low levels of fitness

•      an inability to deal with what life and work are serving up to people.

Remember, it is not what happens, but how we deal with what happens that determines our level of stress. 

Classification of average scores: Excellent - less than 40. Good - 41 - 50. Fair 51-60. Poor - over 60.

AUGUST

Average score was 61.

DECEMBER

Average score was 73.

HEALTH CLIMATE SURVEY

Based on scores received in the Health, Fitness and Wellbeing profile we've compiled a Health Climate Survey. Scores on each item have ranked - the higher the score the worse the problem. We added the scores for each item. The results appear in the table below.

We registered those scores of 5 and over as being a symptom, issue or concern, the most pressing of which have been highlighted.

FITNESS

The fitness profile is comprised of a mix of 10 objective and subjective assessments.

•      Are you keeping yourself fit and healthy to the best of your ability?

•      What was your score on the Health, Fitness and Wellbeing profile?

•      Are you about your ideal weight?

•      Leg strength

•      Abdominal strength test

•      Upper body strength test

•      Flexibility test

•      Mobility test

•      Aerobic fitness

•      Level of energy and vitality.

A reasonable score is over 70%.

Those receiving less than 70 are not training with sufficient vigour or intensity on a regular and systematic basis to keep themselves fit and healthy.

Too many people confess to not keeping themselves as fit and healthy as they would like.		There is a significant change in this graph. 9 people report that they have a good fitness training program. It's a very good result. Some haven't changed their behaviour, mores the pity.
		Question 2 has been omitted because the comparisons are not appropriate.
As a group this is a poor result. However, on this estimation 80% were 10 or more kilos over their ideal weight. Being overweight greatly compromises mobility.		This is a self-assessed score. In actual fact a third of participants were more than 20Kg over weight. 7 people should have scored themselves with a zero. Having said that, this was the thinner group.
		With 2 exceptions, Leg strength was good.
A poor result. Most of the participants failed the test by being unable to complete 17 situps in 30 seconds.		Abdominal strength was was about the same as previously.
A poor result. Most people are lacking in upper body and arm strength		Those will better upper body strength attended this seminar.
14 people couldn't touch their toes. A poor result which leads to back, neck and shoulder dysfunction.		Not a great deal of change.
A poor result.  Too many people had trouble getting down onto the floor and back up again.		This group performed a lot better.
A poor result. It's the sort of test though where every one should be able to get to 40 laps in 5 minutes. Most were scratching to get 25. One person just got to 10 laps in 5 minutes.		Aerobic fitness was better in this group than the first group.
A fair result.		At the end of a roster and the end of the year these people were more tired than during the earlier assessment.
Overall the fitness scores was 46.  As a group overall fitness - aerobic fitness, strength and flexibility was poor. All except 4 people failed the test.		This was a fitter group, but still containing people who were not fit.

MUSCULO-SKELETAL RISK FACTOR

Our musculo-skeletal risk factor profile looked at a range of parameters including mobility, strength and flexibility and whether people are training to keep themselves strong and flexible.

The musculo-skeletal risk factor profile is comprised of a mix of 7 objective and 3 subjective assessments.

•      Current musculo-skeletal condition

•      Closeness to ideal weight

•      Leg strength

•      Abdominal strength test

•      Upper body strength test

•      Flexibility

•      Functional mobility – the ability to sit down and stand up with ease.

•      Shoulder function

•      Flexibility training behaviour

•      Strength training behaviour

A score of 70% is attainable by those who have a regular and systematic training program.

Those scoring less than 70 are not doing sufficient in the way of strength and flexibility exercises. They are therefore exposing themselves to a high risk of musculo-skeletal dysfunction. (It would be bizarre for a workplace to offer to pay the rehabilitation costs of people who were not keeping themselves strong enough or flexible enough to do their job without succumbing to musculo-skeletal dysfunction, wouldn't it?)

Not a particularly good result. Nearly 50% of people have some serious musculo-skeletal issues. They are experiencing some pain and discomfort. Those scoring less the 6 need to be required attend a prehab/rehab program, for their own benefit and that of the organisation. We rate the organisation's risk as HIGH.		Not much change from earlier assessment, just a wider spread of scores.
As a group this is a poor result.		This was a thinner group.
Good result.		With 2 exceptions, Leg strength was good.
A poor result. Most people can't do 1 sit up.		Abdominal strength was was about the same as previously.
A poor result. 7 people couldn't do 1 pressup. Most people couldn't do 10.		Those will better upper body strength attended this seminar.
10 people couldn't touch their toes. A poor result which leads to back, neck and shoulder dysfunction.		Not a great deal of change.
A poor result.		This group performed a lot better.
Patchy.
		This group are doing more flexibility exercises.
		Marginal change for the better.
Average score: 40. A poor result. This is a group waiting musculo-skeletal pain to land on them. The risk of musculo-skeletal dysfunction is high due to low levels of strength and flexibility. There is a strong case for the organisation to implement an obligatory strength and flexibility program for those who scored less than 60 in this profile.		An improvement is detected.

Lack of strength and flexibility is something that the Organisation needs to take seriously and monitor carefully and put in place an organisation-wide strategy to improve musculo-skeletal function. By far and away a high proportion of people do not have a strength and flexibility program. As a result they are getting weaker and tighter by the week, thereby exposing themselves and the organisation to risk.

When push comes to shove and people become dysfunctional, it will be The Organisation that ends up paying the high cost of an avoidable musculo-skeletal complaint. Click here to read the article from injury to dysfunction. Click here to read about swifties and fallacies.

In our opinion musculo-skeletal dysfunction caused by the lack of a regular and systematic strength and flexibility program cannot be classified as an injury. Responsibility for musculo-skeletal dysfunction needs to be sheeted home to individual employees, though it’s unlikely to happen without the establishment of a culture within the organisation that supports, values and understands strength and flexibility.

We recommend a range of strength and flexibility classes that are readily available Australia-wide: -

The Organisation  would place itself in the forefront of OH&S practice if it took the musculo-skeletal risk seriously and moved heaven and earth to educate all staff about this risk and encourage them to take part in a regular strength and flexibility program. Maybe The Organisation and its worker's compensation insurer could invest in a pilot program to increase staff strength and flexibility!

The lack of strength and flexibility training coupled with poor abdominal strength, upper body strength, flexibility and shoulder function is a cause for concern and needs the attention of individual staff and managers.  

Recommendation

We strongly recommend that the people who are in current poor musculo-skeletal condition, and who lack abdominal strength, upper body strength, flexibility, shoulder function and functional mobility, in particular those who scored less than 60 on the profile, be obligated to attend regular, in-house strength and flexibility classes.

The pressure on the organisation's workers' compensation costs is such that to do otherwise would, in our opinion be to abrogate a responsibility for the prudent management of the organisation's finances.

CAREER SATISFACTION PROFILE

The parameters in the profile relate to a mix of factors influences by the participant, management and their colleagues.

•      How close are you to doing the job you’d really like to be doing?

•      Are you in the right job for now?

•      Is work giving you life or sucking life out of you?

•      Are you focused on your career options?

•      Do you get good feedback from your manager?

•      Do you receive an appropriate financial reward?

•      Do you feel you and your work are valued and appreciated?

•      Do you work for an organisation that cares about people?

•      Do you enjoy the company of the people you work with?

•      What’s the level of morale like in your work group?

Normally, when results on the overall career profile are less than 70/100, people agree that they’re not in the right job. Certainly those scoring less than 60 have sufficient issues relating to career management as to seriously consider going somewhere else.

SCORING GUIDELINES

Excellent, scoring 8 or more

Good, scoring 7 or more

Fair, scoring 5 or 6           

Poor, scoring less than 5

‘Pass mark’ on all parameters 7/10. 

	This is a very good score. These people love their jobs.		With several exceptions most of these people were doing the job they love doing.
	This is an excellent result. I don't think I've seen one better. These people are doing the job they love doing. Many don't want to stop.		With 1 exception this is an extraordinarily high level of job satisfaction.
	These people don't find work stressful.		With a couple of exceptions, work is not stressful.
	For those who scored 7/10 it didn't matter.		For most people it didn't matter. They were doing the job they liked doing and had no intention of doing anything else.
	This is a patchy result. Too many people gave their manager a score of less than 7. That's not good. Of all our profile questions, this one is usually the worst answered. In this organisation there's some extra work for managers. Too many people ware nb0ot getting regular feedback from their manager. Many hardly ever see their manager.		Patchy. There's room for improvement here.
	With a few exceptions, these people are pretty satisfied with what they sell themselves for.		Most people believe they are being paid a fair hiring fee.
	This is a patchy result. 50% of people believe their work could be better valued and appreciated.		Most people feel valued and appreciated.
	Patchy. The aim is to have all staff recording a score of 7 or more. There is work to do here.		There's room for improvement in the caring area.
	This is a good score. In the main, people like working with each other. We rarely see scores like this.		There is a high level of enjoyment in the company of workmates.
	Morale is pretty good. It's generally the case that our morale is good when my morale is good. The exceptions need to be dealt with.		This is an exceptionally good reasult.
	Average score: 80. This is an excellent result. Rarely do we see a score this high.  Most people are definitely in the right job. For those scoring less than 60, there is a strong suggestion they're not in the right job. The situation may be redeemable.		This is an excellent result. Only 2 people are not in the right job. These people are doing the job they love doing. Many don't want to stop.

The Buddha and Confucius both said 'Find the job you'd love to do and you don't have to do another days work in your life.'

DIET PROFILE

The diet profile is designed to assist participants to check out whether they are eating wisely and also one which has appropriate amounts of carbohydrate, protein and fat. It also looks at various eating habits, eg eating too much, eating for comfort ...

•      Closeness to ideal weight?

•      Do you eat a decent breakfast?

•      Do you eat a high fat diet?

•      Do you eat a high starch diet?

•      Do you eat from the top of the Diet Hourglass?

•      How much water do you during each day?

•      Do you supplement your diet with essential micro-nutrients – vitamins,

        minerals, essential fats (omega 3) and glyco-proteins - and

        nutraceuticals - ginko, aloe vera, Echinacea ...?

•      Do you eat too much?

•      Are you ruled by your addictions to fat, sugar and starch?

•      Does the back end of your system work like a charm?

We use the Hourglass Diet as out eating model.

Low scores are usually symptomatic of high fat, high starch, low fibre diets. The results: - people become over fat and constipated.

			DECEMBER
			This is a self-assessed score. In actual fact a third of participants were more than 20Kg over weight. 7 people should have scored themselves with a zero.
			Too many people are having a flour and sugar breakfast.
			Some people could eat more fibre.
			There is always the tendency to eat too much bread, potato and pasta ...
			Patchy. Too many people confessed to eating from the junk region of the Hourglass.
			As a group, not bad.
			It's doubtful whether we get enough of the essential vitamins.
			A third of the group owned up to eating too much.
			Always difficult to give in to temptation - and chocolate and ice cream!
			Average.
			Would have been good if the graph had sloped the other way. There's room for improvement.

STRESS RISK PROFILE

Participants completed a simple stress and relaxation profile designed to assist them in making an assessment of how they were affected by stress. It is based on the habits of unstressed people.

If you do what unstressed people do you are less at risk of becoming stressed. I’m yet to see someone who said they were highly stressed or depressed who got a high score on this profile. A good score is over 70.

•      How would you rate your current stress level

•      Do you get a good night’s sleep?

•      Do you take your holidays?

•      Are you keeping yourself fit and healthy?

•      Is there balance in your life?

•      Do you take time off at lunch time?

•      How many hours a week do you work?

•      Are you good at giving back to your Self?

•      Do you meditate?

•      Are you happy with your family (and romantic) life?

The matter of stress always needs to be addressed by organisations as part of a personal development thrust, and aimed at all staff. If stress management type programs are to be conducted, all staff need to be involved, otherwise those at most risk and those who are currently most stressed (and too wrapped up in their own busyness) will not attend.

For those who spend long hours at work, I often wonder whether the behaviour is externally or internally driven. I suspect the latter. No body on their death bed ever said 'I wish I'd spent more time at the office.'

A few people are struggling with their family life. This is another fertile  area for personal development and counseling programs. It's hard to concentrate at work when your home life is in turmoil

SCORING GUIDELINES

Excellent, scoring 8 or more

Good, scoring 7 or more

Fair, scoring 5 or 6           

Poor, scoring less than 5

‘Pass mark’ on all parameters 7/10.

			DECEMBER
			As a group stress is pretty well managed.
			As a group these people sleep well.
			More people could take a good long holiday.
			This is a patchy score. About half the people in this group who were keeping themselves fit.
			As a group life is fairly well balanced.
			With a few exceptions this is good.
			A fair to middling score.
			Most people don't meditate. However more people in this group meditate and than in most.
			With a few exceptions this is a good score.
			This is an average sort of a score. As a group these people are not highly stressed.

RECOMMENDATIONS

See the generic list of recommendations that cover all our profiles.