0020 Kentucky total worker health creating a culture of safety and (not or) health

Abstract

<h3>Statement of purpose</h3> The purpose of total worker safety and health in Kentucky is to create a viable integrated health, safety and productivity management model that provides a holistic, inclusive and empowering approach to prevention for Kentucky businesses to institutionalise within their organisation and their community. <h3>Methods/Approach</h3> Kentucky’s approach is to focus on providing a holistic approach that includes transportation related safety issues, worksite wellness programs, on-the-job and off-the-job worker and family safety and health, workplace violence prevention, emergency preparedness, ergonomics, overexertion prevention and drug-free workplace programs. <h3>Results</h3> Our Core Violence and Injury Prevention Program’s Injury Community Planning Group serves a neutral hub for bringing together a growing number of worker safety-focused and health-centred organisations within Kentucky who are dedicated to advancing the principles and practices of the NIOSH Total Worker HealthTM program. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Building upon the principles of NIOSH’s Total Worker HealthTM, we are building a network of professionals, employers, and educators who promote on- and off- the job health and safety for employees, families and communities. We have established a core of state and national level organisations to champion this initiative within Kentucky. State champions are: 1) KSPAN; 2) Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Centre; 3) Kentucky OSH Surveillance program; 4) Kentucky Labour Cabinet; 5) Kentucky DPH, Worksite Wellness Program; and 5) Kentucky Safety and Health Network. National champions include: 1) National Safety Council; 2) NIOSH; and 3) State of Wellness. <h3>Significance and contribution to the field</h3> Only by promoting a synergistic approach to safety and health can we truly create a supportive culture of safety and health in Kentucky. The significance of this approach is the recognition that Total Worker Health takes us all, government, educators, non-profits, businesses, workers, their families and the local community to achieve a true culture of safety, health and well-being that we all desire.