BSC backs healthy workplace campaign
July 14th 2008 The British Safety Council is continuing to support health and wellbeing in the workplace by supporting the Business Action on Health (BAOH) campaign developed by Business in the Community (BITC).
The campaign aims to help companies understand how to invest in the health and wellbeing of their employees for the benefit of their business and society as a whole.
A key objective of the BAOH campaign is to make reporting on health and wellbeing commonplace in UK board rooms by 2011.
To mark the campaign, a tool to help businesses understand the importance of health and wellbeing was launched this month. Called ‘Business HealthCheck’, it was developed in conjunction with Pricewaterhouse Coopers and the DWP. The tool is designed to help employers quantify the costs of illness to their business and the financial benefits of workplace health and wellbeing programmes.
BAOH has also produced a ‘pledge card’ which will be distributed widely to encourage companies to sign up to the initiative and demonstrate their commitment.
Louise Aston, Director of BAOH said: “We regard the BSC as a key strategic partner and we look forward to working with them more in the future on this area. Not only is looking after health and wellbeing responsible business practice, it is actually good for business.”
Workplace health is one of the BSC’s top priorities and the organisation is therefore encouraging its members to take part in the campaign. The BSC’s Director of Communications Sameena Khan said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the BSC to work with a committed partner to get our message across: that the wellbeing of staff is very important for workers, employers and the business itself.”
To help employers create a healthy workplace, BITC has produced a number of practical resources and further tools are planned on emotional resilience, musculoskeletal disorders and drugs and alcohol. BITC members supporting the campaign include Boots, Ford and Royal Mail, among others.
To find out more and show your commitment, visit www.bitc.org.uk More articles from British Safety Council: | 
