Developing a Coordinated Approach for Health, Safety and Well-Being at Work and Home

There are 311 million Americans in the United States and 155 million of those are workers. On average they spend half their waking lives at work (8.7 hours/day). Work effects employees health care options, emotional well-being and family life. In order to fully address health, we have to address what happens both at work and outside of work.

Historically, workplace wellness and safety programs have been managed in silos along with workers comp and benefits. Health protection programs (safety) have focused on safety, reducing worker exposures to risks arising in the work place itself. And workplace health promotion programs (wellness) have focused exclusively on lifestyle risk factors off the job.

While it can be argued that workers comp costs have been relatively stable, the cost for health care is a much bigger problem. In fact, the high cost of health care is listed as one of the top three concerns by business owners. Randy Boss, a Certified Risk Architect at Ottawa Kent Insurance, Jenison, MI, tackles this very subject in this month’s edition of ROUGH NOTES. To read what Randy has to say, click here: http://browndigital.bpc.com/publication/frame.php?i=215002&p=&pn=&ver=flex