Thiess Quarterly News, Volume 1, 2005

HealthA step in theright directionThiess Qld/NT/Pacific (QNP) is triallinga new employee health program aimedat improving employees’ health throughencouraging regular exercise.Finance and Administration Manager QNP Ken Kerr has his bloodpressure checked as part of the Step Change Program.More than half of QNP’shead office – basedemployees areparticipating in theprogram, known as StepChange, which involvestwo comprehensive healthassessments held at thestart and conclusion ofthe three-month longexercise program.The health assessmentsconsist of a five-point healthcheck specifically lookingat cholesterol levels, bodycomposition (such as BodyMass Index and Waist to HipRatio), cardiovascular fitness,blood pressure andgoal setting.is based on research thatindicates taking 10,000 stepseach day improves the healthand well-being of the generalpopulation. Following theirinitial assessment, employeesform teams and are issuedwith a pedometer to recordthe number of steps takeneach day. During a threemonthperiod a team of sixparticipants, each completing10,000 steps per day, will walkthe equivalent of Brisbaneto Darwin via the region’sproject sites. Positive peerpressure generated by theteam approach will be a keymotivator, with teams able totrack their progress on a mapand compare their performanceA second assessment is thenconducted with each individualat the end of the three-monthperiod to measure anyimprovements made since theinitial check up.There is likely to be somerecognition offered along theway for teams that reach thenominated milestones (projectlocations) first, but the majorprize will go to the team thatcollectively achieves thegreatest health improvements.Thiess Workers Compensationand Rehabilitation ManagerQNP, Gavin Milich saidthe program reflected thecompany’s strong focus onemployee health and safety.of a healthy workforceand we want to encourageour employees to look afterthemselves and incorporateregular exercise intotheir lifestyles.“Although the Healthy HeartProgram showed we are arelatively healthy group, wewanted to develop a programthat got employees activelyinvolved in understandingtheir health and provide somemotivation for regular exercise,”Gavin said.Step Change’s successwill be evaluated at theconclusion of the QNP trial,with the possibility of acompany wide roll-out of theThe Step Change philosophyto other teams.“We recognise the importanceprogram in the future.•David McAdam.DavidMcAdamdrives QNPcommercialfocusDavid McAdam hasrecently been appointedCommercial ManagerThiess Qld/NT/Pacific(QNP).In his role David will leadthe team responsible for theRegion’s commercial supportfunctions, covering suchareas as Legal and Contracts,Estimating, Finance,Administration and IT.David has held seniormanagement positions atengineering and constructionorganisations in both Australiaand South East Asia and isa member of the AustralianInstitute of CompanyDirectors. David has a degreein Chemical Engineering,and is currently completingpostgraduate studiesin business.David said he is lookingforward to developing Thiess’commercial systems, witha particular focus on theimplementation of disciplinedgovernance processes.“Our long term goal is toequip QNP with efficientsystem practices andcompetencies that will take usto the next level commerciallyand ultimately make us morecompetitive in the market.“Through strengthening oursupport systems we canimprove the company’s abilityto deliver quality service toour clients,” David said.•THIESS l quarterly news l VOLUME 1 l 2005 19