Canadian Experiences in Canadian Experiences in Workers’ Health PromotionWorkers’ Health Promotion

Presented by Len HongPresented by Len Hong

Canadian Centre for OccupationalCanadian Centre for Occupational

Health and SafetyHealth and Safety

March 2000March 2000

Background

30 million people– 14 million workers– 700,000 workplaces

6.4% unemployment

Demographics 800 fatalities/year1 in 16 workers are injured illnesses (disabilitiy claims = 8% payroll costs) $4 billion direct workers compensation costs

(mostly safety-related) $10 billion total impact of workers compensation

costs $20 billion for workers’ health direct and indirect

costs– $12 stress related

Employment Trends

Increases in – service sector, knowledge work– health care, transportation– flex work, self employment

Decreases in – extracting natural resources– heavy manufacturing

Governments in Canada

1 federal 10 provincial 3 territorial

Legal governmental authority

Resides with all 14 jurisdictions– Each jurisdiction sets their own standards and

legislation:» Education, training, health, workers compensation

» Occupational health and safety

– No uniform laws/standards

Workers Health Surveillance

Workers Compensation Boards (all public sector)

Departments of Health

Social Safety Network

National health care system National pension system Welfare system Employment insurance and training

programs

Occupational Health and Safety System Internal responsibility system

– Employee/employer are the stakeholders– Joint occupational health and safety committees

Hazard/ risk based Clear responsibilities and duties

Occupational Health and Safety System (cont’d)

Government role of setting statutes, policy, enforcement– Support for prevention and training programs – Some support for research and education

Significant Barriers for Workers Health Promotion

Clear definition of workers’ health Unified policy/legislation Authority/accountability for workers health Standards Full stakeholder participation National vision linked to results based on

accountability

Health for All Framework

1. creating health, at the roots of health and disease at work, including social and

environmental determinants

2. improving health over the entire working lifecycle

3. improving health in the settings which give them context i.e. at work,

and related to work

Health for All Framework (cont’d)4. taking action across sectors and in

partnerships that go beyond those boundaries

5. measuring the success of health strategies and actions at all

levels, in terms of health outcomes

Health Considerations in Canadian Workplaces

1.Physical

2.Psychosocial- Emotional, mental, social, spiritual, intellectual

Lifecycle considerations

Employee assistance programs Family work balance Family burden Continuous learning

Leadership

Guidelines– Health Canada-Workplace Health System for

small businesses, corporations and schools– Small business

» needs assessment-employees health survey

» Workplace health profile-general report Special report : stress, health and safety concerns at work, Special report : stress, health and safety concerns at work,

physical activity, weight, smoking, drinking, medication physical activity, weight, smoking, drinking, medication use use

Leadership (cont’d)

Guidelines (cont’d)– Small Business (cont’d)

» Health plan one to three years involving a community (5)

» Action plan programs, policies and activities

National Quality Institute – Canadian Healthy Workplace Criteria Annual award to recognize good to best

practices Partnership of Health Canada, health and

safety professionals Jointly sponsored by the Health, Work and

Wellness Institute of Canada

Initiatives

Use of Canadian Healthy Workplace System– Community plan (5 provinces)– Issue based - pregnancy

School health program for students, staff School health program for students, staff and teachersand teachers

Partnerships

MultisectoralMultisectoral– eg: Ottawa Carleton Workplace Health System– public health (regional government), safety

association (NGO), community group, labour , business (large and small), professional, federal and provincial government, health care, management/research

Partnerships (cont’d)

Safe Communities coalitions (> 30) Curriculum development

– Resources for educating teachers– Teaching resources

Youth OSH Conference Minerva Canada

Business Case

Annual conference and awards for workers’ health programs

Provincial best practices database in OSH

Resources labour, management, government, NGO,

professional, trade associations, business organizations, schools, academics, researchers

training/ training materials staff funding case studies and reports academic research planning

Advocacy

Labour unionsLabour unions Business leadersBusiness leaders Professional/health/injury prevention Professional/health/injury prevention

interest groupsinterest groups ParentsParents

Enhanced public profile

Social marketing– New Brunswick– Ontario– British Columbia

Evidence-based

Institute for Work and Health Canadian Research Institutes Workers Compensation Boards

Future

Accountability Social policies National programs Redirect resources Best evidence Capacity and capability building