From a breakfast meeting held on Tuesday 17 June - taken from News on IOSH Home Page “All responsible companies are involved in wellbeing programmes but I do feel we are scratching the surface. We should be aware these are increasingly important issues and should look to best practice around the world.” Mr Barradell said: “The truth of this is the ability of an organisation to reduce sickness and maintain staff in good health is worth the investment. “The time is right 40 years on to make the switch from the safety to the health aspect.” Do you agree with Mr Barradell's statement about switching? - because I don't. You can be the fittest person in the world both mentally and physically and still have an accident due to bad safety. Rich

I accept there are business benefits in promoting healthy lifestyle choices, and that for many organisations, the 'health and safety person' (and environment, security, quality etc etc) may be the only person with any knowledge or inclination to develop and implement appropriate measures. However - I do not feel that health promotion (as opposed to health surveillance and health screening) is necessarily 'Occupational' health issue. The 'O' IOSH stands for occupational - we may risk diluting core service delivery if we are diverted into something else..... Although again I have to agree there may be greater benefits in having a generally healthy workforce....

whilst workers are as cheap as they are we will not really progress in most cases

"Well Being" requires upfront thinking and in my view is more HR led, although due to some occupational health related matters, the " Health & Safety" person could be involved. In our case, well being promoted, all being VOLUNTARY/OPTIONAL by:- 1) health checks at company expense. The frequency is based on age banding (every 5 yrs for under 40, 2 yrs from 40 to 50 and annual for those over 50. The type of checks done are also voluntary, but most go for the full check. There is some "ADVICE" provided from the service provider, if aspects exceed "norms" 2) site based seasonal flu jabs paid for by the company, in company time--about 50% of the 400 site personnel sign up to this. 3) subsidised gym membership--as we do not have the space to have a gym on site 4) a wide range of healthy options served in the site restaurant The challenge is how the campaign is run. It need not be "nannying" if thought out & implemented appropriately. Yes, there always will be a small minority, irrespective how carefully a campaign is run who will moan/whinge, but if the majority are positively affected, then it may be worth it. The health aspect, is about "supporting/managing " staff when they return to work, even if the cause is not work-related--mostly supported by HR, but Health & Safety involvement when the individual cannot carry out all the normal tasks/activities. In such cases, the Occupational Health Service provider provides advice/ input for the medical aspects.

ref: Jay 50% of 400 site personnel sign up for flu jabs: NHS recommend flu jabs if •you're aged 65 or over •you're pregnant •you have a serious medical condition •you live in a residential or nursing home •you're the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill •your child is in an at-risk group and is aged six months to two years. I appears that you are paying for something not really required - could the money be better spent elsewhere? + I was told that the at risk persons can get the jabs for free on the NHS (or is that Wales only). We employ 173 but do not have a canteen - so our healthy option is don't eat food here + work hard = healthy, fit bodies (I wish) Others Unless you are in a cash rich company - can you prove "wellness" to your senior team that this is worthwhile - I would struggle. Moreover, is there a risk that managers who have limited departmental budgets would employ fitter, younger people to avoid the costs of implementing nice-to-do company promotion

The gumnt spent all that money on Tamiflu after the sales evangelists hid the evidence of the pharma company responsible... Is there any evidence (and I cannot now accept much the pharma company says...) that flu jabs work? I know its not scientific but my parents both had the jab - and both suffered nasty side effects. My mam went on to develop pneumonia after a bout of flu... So I will take a lot of convincing that this is a sensible use of my employer's (ot the guvnmnt) resources. ..