Occupational Health Management Archives – January 1, 2010
January 1, 2010
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Don't settle for second-rate data on wellness, safety programs
If you assume that your workforce has better than average health statistics due to programs for nutrition, fitness and smoking cessation, you may be sadly mistaken. On the other hand, you may have far fewer obese employees than the national average. -
MSD complaints fall sharply with stretching program
When occupational health professionals at Replacements, a Greensboro, NC-based supplier of old and new china, crystal, silver, and collectibles with 550 employees, did a review of their Occupational Safety and Health Administration 300 log of work-related injuries and illnesses, they found that their largest worker's compensation numbers were coming from musculoskeletal (MSD) complaints. -
Step in to switch donuts to healthy snacks at meetings
You spent all your resources and time encouraging employees to make healthy lifestyle choices. Then, he or she is offered free donuts at every meeting and candy baskets during the day. -
Get healthy choices into your vending machines
Imagine a diabetic worker leaving a "lunch and learn" on how to control her blood sugar who feels hunger pangs. As he or she walks past the vending machine, is that worker faced with a choice between a candy bar and a sugary pastry? -
Use these return-to-work strategies for flu, H1N1
As H1N1 and flu absences crop up in the workplace, your goal is twofold. You want employees to stay out only as long as necessary to limit lost productivity, yet you must keep them out of the workplace while infectious so they don't get others sick. -
Don't overlook indirect costs of presenteeism
What would you say are the two strongest drivers of lost productivity due to a health-related problem at your workplace? According to Lisa Jing, program manager of integrated health at San Jose, CA-based Cisco Systems, these are depression and anxiety. -
Corporations got H1N1 vaccine before hospitals
When this pandemic influenza season eases and there is time to ponder lessons learned, here's one question on the top of the list: Why did some corporations, such as Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, obtain vaccine before hospitals? -
EEOC: Pandemic rules based on 'direct threat'
By law, how far can you go in screening employees or altering leave policies during pandemic? The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), privacy and state leave laws still apply, limiting what employers can do, advises Nina Massen, JD, senior associate with the disability, leave and health management practice group of Jackson Lewis LLP in White Plains, NY. -
2009 Salary Survey Results: Occupational health salary increases "minimal" but role continues to cross boundaries
During a meeting with an employee about a worker's compensation issue, you encourage him to take advantage of a discounted YMCA membership.