The smart contractor knows that safety doesn’t cost, it pays. ABC Delaware provides Safety Classes on a scheduled and as needed basis for members. The list of Fall 2009 Classes is listed on our Education page. Click here.
If you have training needs that are not listed, contact ABC Delaware Education Director Jon Lavin at (302) 328-1111 or e-mail at jlavin@abcdelaware.com for assistance with customized training classes.
Chairman Swarter's Wellness campaign kicks-off
ABC Delaware 2011 Chairman Joe Swarter has made wellness one of his four goals for the year and on April 28 the Safety & Health Committee held a wellness awareness breakfast featuring Dale S. Lowe, RN, MHA, CPHQ, Director, Preventive Medicine & Rehabilitation Institute at Christiana Care (pictured left).
"Each year health care costs increase substantially. The increases are not just paid by the employer," said Swarter. "My concern is for the employees, along with the employers. Each year the costs increase for the employee in the form of bigger deductibles. The current construction worker mean age is 42 years old. This is also a reason to look at incorporating a wellness program at work. Our work force is not getting younger. So emphasizing a healthy lifestyle for our employees will pay off both financially in reduced health care costs along with a more productive worker," Swarter said.
Why invest in workplace wellness? What are the steps to a worksite wellness program? Those were two of the topics discussed on April 28.
"More and more research shows that poor diet and lack of exercise are major drivers of increases in healthcare costs for employers," said Lowe. "The number of obese adults has doubled since the 1970s. The rise in obesity has a significant impact on healthcare costs. On average, health-care costs for an obese person were $1,244 higher than for a person with a healthy weight. Almost $1 of every $5 spent on health care in the United States is for a person with diabetes."
During his presentation, Lowe discussed tools to reduce the rate of increasing medical costs; ability to identify savings for employees and employers; identify behavioral factors from true medical conditions; and tools to introduce incentives to gain employee engagement and promote quality outcomes
"Here are things that worked for us," said Lowe, "and you can adapt these for small businesses, too, with a little work."
- Issue a letter of support from CEO.
- Designate a company wellness leader.
- Conduct an employee health interest survey.
- Provide opportunity for health screening.
- Administer an annual physical activity campaign.
- Hold Lunch & Learns.
- Establish an in-house wellness library.
- Disseminate a quarterly health newsletter.
- Implement health promoting policies.
- Promote community health efforts.
"The biggest challenge is changing the culture," concluded Lowe. "You need to obtain key management support, encourage improvements in the working environment, have a good incentive and program design, and good communication plans to keep things moving forward."