For prevent and promote health everything can be useful: organizing group walks, defining low-calorie menus in canteens, encouraging physical activity, raising awareness of risky behavior and encouraging compliance with screening. Examples of actions and good practices implemented by companies of Emilia-Romagna who voluntarily participate in the plan regional ‘Workplaces that promote health’, promoted by Region in the context of Regional Prevention Plan 2021-2025.
From Piacenza to Riminibased on the data collected and updated, 206 companies joined the program public and privatefor a total of over 80,000 workers who can be involved in the activities.
Focus on two wheelsLocal health authority of Ferrara. It did so both by joining the ‘Bike to Work’ project and by purchasing four bicycles, available to the operators of the operational units of the Department of Public Health, to facilitate travel during surveillance activities in the city centre.
“The program aims to spread awareness that investing in the health of employees represents an asset for every company and an added value also in terms of productivity – say the councilors for health policies, Raffaele Doniniis at work, Vincenzo Colla-. A collaboration strategy between the healthcare system and the world of work, which for years has been one of the objectives of the Region’s Regional Prevention Plan. The work environment – continue the councilors – represents a privileged place to reach many citizens of all genders and age groups, with initiatives aimed at adopting correct lifestyles and combating the risk factors underlying the main chronic diseases. Many examples of good practices come from the private sector, but also from the regional health service companies themselves which are called upon first and foremost to set an example”.
The commitment of the regional health service Indeed, it matters for promoting health in the workplace many good practices: company sports tournaments, physical activities in free time, walking groups and orienteering competitions; encouraging home-work travel by bicycle also thanks to the purchase of company vehicles, creation of video tutorials on psycho-physical well-being, as well as nutrition courses for overweight employees, awareness-raising activities on screening and vaccination campaigns.
There are numerous projects that also include private companies can implement, as envisaged by the ‘Workplaces that promote health’ programme: for example, install healthy food and drink dispensers, define a balanced and not too high-calorie menu with internal or external suppliers, offer courses for quitting smoking, raise awareness on the risks associated with alcohol abuse and other pathological addictions; stipulate subsidized agreements for the use of gyms, swimming pools and sports centers by its employees or encourage internal physical activity with competitive activities; and again, promote cancer screenings and encourage vaccinations for workers at risk.
Targeted actions are planned on theme of active aging at work of older workers, at greater risk of developing chronic diseases, with the aim of identifying tools and strategies to help keep them at work in an active role. Other interventions included in the program concern the promotion of healthy lifestyles in women of working agewith the preparation of projects aimed at increasing physical activity and correct nutrition.
