Health circles
Measures aimed at improving workplace health are more effec-tive if staff members are included in the analysis of working conditions, the design of solutions and their implementation. Health circles are built upon employees’ specific knowledge and experiences and the results of internal surveys.
Objectives
- To identify factors affecting health and resources
- To facilitate mutual understanding of the current work situation from the point of view of staff and managers
- To develop measures for improvement adapted to the business and relevant job positions
- To encourage staff members to participate in and share responsibility for health management and promotion
- To improve the workplace environment, organization of work and cooperation.
Content
A health circle normally involves four/seven sessions of two hours each and follows certain steps:
- Defining objectives and rules
- Measuring physical, psychological and social symptoms
- Examining causes and past incidents (possibly using data from the staff survey)
- Creating a vision of a business which embraces health promotion
- Highlighting suggestions for improvement
- Designing an array of measures to be implemented.
Implementation
- Management sets the objectives of the health circle from its point of view
- Creation of a representative working group made up of seven/twelve staff members
- Setting up the health circle
- Members of the working group present measures to management
- Management decides on and implements measures
- Evaluation.