the basics - World Health Communication Associates

4.5 WORKPLACE SETTINGSThe workplace directly influences the physical, mental, economic and social wellbeingof workers and, in turn, the health of their families, communities and society. Itoffers an infrastructure to improve health literacy through educational and healthpromotional interventions.By providing clear and consistent health messages to employees, employerscan help prevent accidents and lower the risk of industrial or occupational diseases.Health-promoting work environments go further, with specific health and wellbeingpolicies and dedicated support for employees to address lifestyle choices, such asalcohol and drug use, and stress factors, including job security, demand–control,effort–reward in the workplace and issues related to achieving an appropriate work–life balance.Workplace health promotionWHO (2008) has defined workplace health promotion as the combined efforts ofemployers, employees and society to improve the health and wellbeing of people atwork. It places particular emphasis on improving the work organisation by increasingworkers’ participation in shaping the working environment and encouragingprofessional development.Workplace health promotion focuses on a number of factors, such as thepromotion of healthy lifestyles and non-occupational factors in the generalenvironment. Non-occupational factors include family welfare, home and commutingconditions, and community factors (and risks) which affect workers’ health.While some health promotion activities in the workplace tend to focus on asingle illness or risk factor (for example, HIV/AIDS or heart disease) or on changingpersonal behaviours (for example, smoking and diet), there is growing appreciationthat there are multiple determinants of workers’ health. In addition to personfocusedinterventions, workforce health promotion initiatives have moved toward amore comprehensive approach, which goes beyond safety issues and acknowledgesthe combined influence of personal, environmental, organisational, community andsocietal factors on employee wellbeing.WHO has introduced the concept of the health promoting workplace (HPW)as an integrated way of paying proper attention to workers’ health and safety. HPWprogrammes aim to:52SECTION 4: WHAT CAN WE DO TO STRENGTHEN HEALTH LITERACY?