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Reader panel - Balancing work and life |
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Written by Administrator
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Sunday, 14 September 2003 |
Some say that safety starts at home. Most agree that it continues at home, in the way that we take care of ourselves. But just how great is the connection between oh&s and off-the-job safety and general "wellness"? If I'm the type of person who rides a bike without a helmet, stays up late drinking on week nights and has a primarily popcorn diet, am I more prone to getting hurt at work? Researchers are still at work on this issue, but meanwhile we asked the COS Reader Panel some questions on work-life balance. Here's what our 127 panelists had to say:
1. Do safety knowledge and a healthy lifestyle usually produce safe behaviour at work?
Ninety percent of our respondents said yes. Okay, health and safety professionals are obviously sold on the idea of wellness and a strong safety culture - except for the 10 percent who said no.
2. In your opinion, at which stage in life does a good health and safety consciousness really sink in?
At home during childhood: 23%
At school during childhood: 7%
At home during teen years: 6%
At school during teen years: 4%
Health and safety training at post-secondary level: 4%
Health and safety training during job orientation: 5%
Ongoing health and safety training and safety awareness on the job: 52%
Comments:
· "All the health and safety knowledge in the world will not help protect you if you aren't aware or responsible enough to apply it to daily activities."
· "A consciousness probably does not sink in very deep until the teen years as young ones are just simply told 'no.' Towards the teens the parents have to also tell their children 'no' and 'why'."
· "Dependant on the individual it can take place earlier, but most seem to get onside with ongoing programs."
· "Good consciousness of health and safety factors sinks in only with experience gained and knowledge acquired. Some level of maturity is required."
· "I think, unfortunately, many young workers do not realize the potential dangers of the workplace until they personally know of a bad accident."
· "Safety training and presentation techniques are often not well directed in many cases for young people to readily absorb as they are developing their safety consciousness. We need to work on this!"
3. When you were trained/educated as a health and safety professional, were you taught about wellness?
Sixty percent said they were not taught about wellness as part of their health and safety training and education. Forty percent were, and I suspect that number will increase over the next few years as the next generation practices its new-found holistic approach to health and safety.
4. Which extra-curricular "wellness" areas does your health and safety program address, if any:
Diet and nutrition: 43%
Exercise: 64%
Healthy sleeping habits: 27%
Encouraging workers to take on hobbies (creative, recreational, athletic) : 26%
Rest and relaxation (yoga, meditation) : 18%
Psychological health (EAP, group therapy, counselling) : 58%
Other:
· "We have a massage therapist and a chiropractor who come to the plant."
· "Spending time with friends and family."
· "At times it is hard to get buy-in from all parties."
· "Adapting to rotating shift schedules."
· "Anti-smoking campaigns."
· "No wellness program in place yet."
· "Sadly, none of these with any focus."
5. Comments:
"It's like the internal responsibility system (IRS). Individuals must take on the responsibility for their own health. Promote healthy living to everyone around you - you will also benefit."
· "To some the word 'wellness' conjures up an esoteric luxury. In my opinion, wellness and safety are not separable."
· "Tracking absenteeism shows improvements & trends."
· Wellness promotion for me has been very personal especially as I have aged and developed age-related chronic health problems. My employer has a long way to go to promote wellness as a driving principle."
· "As a public employer it is hard to achieve support due to the ever vigilant taxpayer groups who balk at such programs as a waste of their tax dollars."
· "'Life is one indivisible whole'- Gandhi. I have wasted many hours trying to fix a part of life, with little result."
· "I leave work at work. I never take it home in any fashion. After work, it's time for family and fun, and I make sure I get eight hours sleep a night. Work should not own employees. Mine sure doesn't own me."
· "At home the family is very aware of proper eating and sleeping habits. We endeavor to take periodic vacations to recharge.
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