63 Creating a healthy workplace at a school of public health, national university of singapore – using the total workplace safety and health (wsh) tools

Abstract

Introduction Many health promotion programs are introduced without first conducting a proper risk assessing of the workplace. As such, it is difficult to evaluate the usefulness of the programs. We have developed a tool, Total WSH, which consider safety, health and wellbeing holistically at the workplace. This tool was used in this study. Methods We conducted the study on 245 staff of our School of Public Health in June 2015 using the Total WSH tools which consist of Workplace Safety & Health Services Questionnaire (WSHQ) – assess Elements of basic WSH Management System; Workplace Safety and Health 360 Questionnaire (WSH360) – evaluate Perception and communication of WSH priorities, services and integration; Basic Health Survey (BHS) – determine basic health of workers; and Walk through assessment. Based on the findings, we implemented targeted health programs which were evaluated using the BHS again 1 year after the implementations. Results Assessment revealed the School’s health and safety management system were robust. However, some health and well-being needs of the staff were unmet. We implemented interventions programs to address these health issues and evaluated the outcomes. Fitness Friday, posters to increase stair, provision of adjustable working tables to encourage standing during work, office ergonomic pregame to address bodily pain, and education on healthy eating were introduced. 22% reported bodily pain in the past 4 weeks – this was reduced to 17.2%. 64% did not meet the national recommended physical activity level (WHO’s) – this was reduced to 55.6%. The daily average consumption of fruits and vegetables (national recommendation of 2 servings) have also increased from 31.7% to 35.7% and 61.1 and to 64.1%, respectively. In addition, the daily consumption of sweetened drink has decreased from 27% to 19.6%. Discussion Total WSH tool is effective in assessing the safety and health at the workplace and also an evaluation tool to determine the outcomes of programs that are being implemented at the workplaces.