The US-American National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
WorkLife Program is evolving to address a wider range of factors that influence
workers' total health. NIOSH and their partners recognize that a multitude of
work and non-work related factors influence employees' safety, health, ability
to work, and well-being in every aspect of their lives. Employer concern about
the effects of diminished employee health on productivity, absenteeism, and
rising health care costs is growing. Therefore, employers are increasingly
receptive to a growing body of evidence which provides rationale for addressing
health promotion in conjunction with organizational efforts to protect workers
and create safe and healthful workplaces. The WorkLife Program is changing its
name to Total Worker Health™ to better convey this more comprehensive approach
to workplace prevention. As part of this evolution, NIOSH will begin building
an intramural program focused on protecting and promoting Total Worker Health™
through research, interventions, partnerships, and capacity building to meet
the needs of the 21st century workforce.



Beginning with Steps to a Healthier US Workforce and continuing with the
WorkLife Program, NIOSH has promoted the integration of programs designed to
protect worker health and safety on the job with health promotion and wellness
programs in order to more effectively protect, improve, and promote both
organizational and individual health and well-being. (For additional details
about the origin and history of the Program, please see "History of NIOSH
WorkLife Program" on the Total Worker Health™ Website). The program has
emphasized the interplay of workplace conditions (i.e., the organization of
work, policies, and management strategies) in the safety, health, and
engagement of workers and for the past five years, NIOSH has funded and
partnered with three national WorkLife Centers of Excellence to further explore
and research the benefits of integrated approaches to employee health.
Preliminary results indicate the value of this approach and the need for
additional comprehensive research.



As the Program takes a broader approach to prevention and the intramural Total
Worker Health™ program evolves, NIOSH will continue to provide leadership and
guidance in promoting scientific research, policy, and practices that: (a)
recognize the full range of factors affecting employee health and (b)
coordinate workplace prevention, health protection, health promotion and
related programs to improve the safety, health, and well-being of workers and
their families. The Program will continue its relationships with the WorkLife
Centers and other partners in efforts that seek to create environments,
practices, and policies that optimize Total Worker Health™. Please stay tuned
to the Total Worker Health™ website and subscribe to regular updates to stay
abreast of program developments.

More info

AplusA-online.de - Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)