36 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner, ME 04345
making connections ~ improving lives Worksite Wellness Newsletter of HCCA
Volume 2 Issue 12 Adult and Worksite Wellness |
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Board of Directors
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Mary Frances Bartlett
Rebecca West Dick, Chair
Cindy T. Flye
Rob Gordon
Chuck Hays, Treasurer
Bill McKenna
William McPeck, Vice Chair
Kathi Wall
Jim Wood, Secretary
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Our Towns |
- Augusta
- Chelsea
- Farmingdale
- Fayette
- Gardiner
- Hallowell
- Litchfield
- Manchester
- Monmouth
- Mount Vernon
- Pittston
- Randolph
- Readfield
- Richmond
- Vienna
- Wayne
- West Gardiner
- Windsor
- Winthrop
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| Cancellation |
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The June 3, 2009 Worksite Wellness meeting titled Coaching 101 has been cancelled. | |
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Welcome to HCCA's May 2009 Worksite Wellness Newsletter
HCCA's monthly Worksite Wellness e- newsletter contains general wellness & community information & subjects specific to worksite wellness program development.
June and July editions will include success stories of worksites who have gone tobacco free, please submit your stories.
Visit the HCCA Worksite Wellness webpages at
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| How to Protect Yourself From Getting Sick |
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Proper respiratory etiquette remains a critical component of reducing the spread of H1N1 and includes the following:
1. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve.
2. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
3. Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
4. If you get sick with a fever and respiratory symptoms, stay home from work or school for seven days and limit contact with others to avoid infecting them.
To stay current on events related to the status of H1N1: www.cdc.gov/swineflu
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| Quick Links to Commmunity Events |
The Hallowell Area Board of Trade and Row House, Inc. invites you to celebrate the formal opening of the The Museum in the Streets - Hallowell Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 12PM in the Hallowell City Hall Auditorium. Luncheon and Music from Hallowell ~ 12:00PM featuring Marcia Gallagher at the piano Salute to Guests and Contributors ~ 12:30PM Procession to the Waterfront ~ 1:15PM Official Ribbon Cutting ~ 1:30PM For more information call 207-620-7477 or email info@historichallwell.org
The Gardiner Public Library has announced a new fund-raising program in which all local gardeners can participate.
"Grow a row for the library" program begins Saturday, May 9 and will continue through the summer. Library staff is asking area gardeners to plant an extra row of flowers, asparagus, carrots, lettuce, squash, herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers or whatever else they may grow in their garden. Then, when the produce is ready to be harvested, the gardeners will contribute whatever has grown in the extra row or rows to the library for the staff to sell. For more information call the library at 582-3312 .
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| May Health Observances |
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 Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
Millions of people suffer from allergies caused by everyday exposures to agents such as dust mites, cat dander, and pollens. Agents encountered by workers can also cause allergic problems such as asthma, nasal and sinus allergies, hives, and even severe anaphylactic reactions. Examples of these work-related agents include animal proteins, enzymes, flour, natural rubber latex, and certain reactive chemicals. Asthma is one of the more serious problems that can be caused by work-related allergy. It can cause recurrent attacks of symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. In severe cases, these symptoms can be disabling. Fortunately, when potential hazards are recognized, work-related allergies and asthma can often be prevented or their effects minimized.
National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month
In recognition of Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month®, the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy) releases a new public service advertisement (PSA) campaign and news, and coordinates several activities to raise awareness about skin cancer and to encourage Americans to practice sun-safe behaviors.
Melanoma Monday®
In 1995, the Academy established the first Monday in May as Melanoma Monday® to raise awareness about this potentially fatal type of skin cancer and to encourage Americans to practice sun-safe behaviors and examine their skin for suspicious moles and lesions. www.melanomamonday.org
National Stroke Awareness Month
Stroke is the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability of adults in Maine. Annually over 3,000 Maine residents are hospitalized due to stroke and nearly a 700 die. Unfortunately only 19% of Mainers can correctly identify stroke symptoms and when to call 911.
Signs and Symptoms of Stroke
* Numbness in the face, arm or leg
* Slurred Speech
* Blurred Vision
* Dizziness or Loss of Balance
* Severe Headache
Any ONE of these symptoms is a reason to take action. At the first sign of stroke call 911 immediately.
Survival and successful recovery is improved if these symptoms are recognized quickly and immediate medical attention is given; the sooner a stroke patient receives treatment, the more likely that long term damage may be avoided.
Risk factors for stroke include:
* Being Overweight or Obese
* Smoking
* Being Physically Inactive
* High Blood Pressure
* High Cholesterol
* Carotid Artery Disease (hardening of the arteries in the neck)
* Diabetes
* Atrial Fibrillation (irregularheartbeat)
National Employee Health and Fitness Day
Founded in 1989 National Employee Health & Fitness Day™ is the third (3rd) Wednesday in May each year. Administered annually by the National Association for Health & Fitness, NEHF is a national health observance, created to promote the benefits of physical activity for individuals through their work site health promotion activities.
Worksite Wellness Programs enhance the overall health and productivity of your organization!
Benefits For Employers:
Improved employee productivity
Reduced use of health related benefits
Decreased rates of illness and injuries
Reduced employee absenteeism and presenteeism
Benefits For Employees:
Lower levels of stress
Increased well-being, self-image and self-esteem
Improved physical health
Increased stamina
Improved morale and job satisfaction
National Blood Pressure Awareness Month
May is high blood pressure awareness month. Do you know your numbers? One in three Americans over age 20 has high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a leading risk factor for heart attacks and stroke. You can have it for years without knowing it. During this time, though, it can damage the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and other parts of your body.
Blood pressure numbers include systolic (sis-TOL-ik) and diastolic (di-a-STOL-ik) pressures. Systolic blood pressure is the pressure when the heart beats while pumping blood. Diastolic blood pressure is the pressure when the heart is at rest between beats.
You will most often see blood pressure numbers written with the systolic number above or before the diastolic, such as 120/80 mmHg. (The mmHg is millimeters of mercury-the units used to measure blood pressure.)
Category Systolic or top number Diastolic or bottom number
Normal Less than 120 And Less than 80 Prehypertension 120-139 Or 80-89 High blood pressure Stage 1 140-159 Or 90-99 Stage 2 160 or higher Or 100 or higher Blood pressure tends to rise with age. Following a healthy lifestyle helps some people delay or prevent this rise in blood pressure. People who have HBP can take steps to control it and reduce their risks for related health problems. Key steps include following a healthy lifestyle, having ongoing medical care, and following the treatment plan that your primary care provider prescribes. For more information visit the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute at www.nhlbi.nih.gov
Other May Health Observances
Women's Health Week 10-16
Bike to Work Week 10-16
World No Tobacco Day
Older Americans Month
National Senior Health & Fitness Day 27th
June Health Observances
National Great Outdoors Month
National Safety Month
National Men's Health Month
National Trails Day
Stand for Children Day - 1st
Home Safety Month
National Safety Month |
| Guest Column |
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Ergonomics - Is It A Safety or Wellness Issue?
By William McPeck, MSW, CWWPC
Introduction
The answer, if you are using a comprehensive employee health and productivity model, is that it really doesn't matter. Either way, ergonomic injuries are costing your organization both directly as medical costs and indirectly as lost productivity costs. What is ergonomics? Simply put, ergonomics is the science of matching the work environment with the individual characteristics and capabilities of the worker.
Types of Risks
Both manufacturing and non-manufacturing type employers face ergonomic risks. Ergonomic injuries are probably the greatest risk faced by a non-manufacturing type employer. Within an office type setting, the biggest ergonomic risk comes from computer use. Industrial type ergonomic risks include working in an awkward position and repetitive movements, including shoveling and raking.
Computer Use
Risks arising from computer use generally arise from poor body position in relationship to the height of the chair, keyboard, mouse and monitor. Secondary is the risk from uninterrupted, repetitive key strokes. Employees permanently assigned to a workstation should undergo a workstation evaluation. If multiple employees use one workstation, the workstation should be fully adjustable.
If having a physical/occupational therapist or ergonomics specialist evaluate your workstations is not feasible for financial reasons, consider training one or two of your employees as "peer evaluators." Employee self evaluation tools and resources can also be found on the Web, though I would caution the reader that self evaluation should, in my opinion, be a last resort. Some examples of available resources include:
State of Wisconsin - http://www.doa.state.wi.us/ergonomics/course/f_lesson04.html University of California Santa Cruz - http://ehs.ucsc.edu/safety/pubs/ergo/SelfEvaluation.pdf
University of Wisconsin River Falls - http://www.uwrf.edu/risk/documents/Ergonomics%20booklet-2.pdf
In addition to workstation evaluations, a comprehensive approach to ergonomic injury prevention includes stretching and education. Employees should be mandated or encouraged to participate in group stretch breaks at regularly scheduled times during their workday. Employers should also encourage employees to take quick mini-breaks every hour. For every 60 minutes of computer use, employees should take a 3 minute mini-break and get up and stretch or take a quick walk around their immediate office area.
Employees can reduce their risks by being better educated and aware of ergonomic risks. The training can be accomplished either in a classroom setting or electronically. Maine law requires employees who work on computers for 4 or more continuous hours a day (including breaks) to have annual ergonomic training. A free training is offered by the Maine Bureau of Labor Standards at: http://www.safetyworksmaine.com/training/online_classes/vdt/VDT-PPT_files/frame.htm
Laptops
If employees are issued a laptop to work from home or other off site location on a regular basis, consider supplying the employee with an external keyboard, mouse and monitor. Laptops are not designed for extended use at a fixed location. Ideally, the home office or other regularly used off site location should also receive a workstation type evaluation.
Role of the Supervisor
Ergonomics should be a part of the everyday language of the supervisor. To promote an ergonomically healthy workplace, supervisors should:
- Learn the ergonomic risk factors for the jobs in their unit and how these risk factors can be minimized
- Supply ergonomic training to their employees
- Encourage employee input into solving ergonomic related issues and problems
- Designate a peer evaluator for their work unit and then support the person by providing the necessary time and resources
- Secure ergonomic appropriate furniture and tools for their employees
- Promote periodic scheduled stretch breaks and frequent, short mini-breaks as well as alternative work activities when necessary
- Encourage staff to report pain and discomfort symptoms early
Remember, it is always more cost effective and morale boosting to identify and proactively address areas of high risk before an injury results. Injuries are costly and demoralizing.
Bill McPeck is Director of Employee Health and Safety for Maine State Government and Vice-President of the HCCA Board of Directors. Bill holds a certificate in ergonomics from the University of Cincinnati. |
| Wellness Team Corner |
 A Time to Celebrate...
At this year HCCA's Annual Meeting four area organizations were recognized for their excellence in worksite wellness.
Crystal Berry of Concentra Medical Centers received the Sharing the Road Award. She is a collaborator extraordinaire for her level collaboration with HCCA's worksite wellness initiatives. I met Crystal my first week at HCCA, after a brief conversation at a KV Chamber Women's Luncheon we decided to have a more formal meeting to better understand each others' work. Crystal and her organization has participated at all of the worksite wellness panel meetings, contributed to the HCCA workplan, acted as an advisor and we have worked together to offer our clients the best joint programming.
Brooke Jansen and Muriel Scott of Spectrum Generations. Brooke receives the Worksite Wellness Spirit Award. Brooke is new to worksite wellness, inheriting the position of Chair this past summer after a number of changes within her organization. Despite many challenges including no budget, with her leadership the team has created an ambitious workplan that will benefit the organization's staff in all of its locations and the people they serve. None of Brooke tireless efforts would have been possible without her supervisor's support and creative solutions.
Jonathan Leach of the Children's Center receives the Wellness Leadership Award. Under Jonathan's leadership the Children's Center has started its first worksite wellness program; its mission is to create a shared value that supports active, well-nourished children, healthy staff, educated parents and positive environments. Through modeling, shared resources and support the staff, the children and the parents will be well mentally, emotionally, physically and socially in safe, positive and supportive environments. After presenting together at the Maine Center for Public Health Worksite Wellness Meeting many people commented how lucky we were to work with someone like Jonathan.
Lynne Kelly and Nick Aberding of Pine State Beverage Company receive the Pioneer Award. This is really one of the cases were we are reminded not to judge a book by its cover. The Pine State offices in Gardiner and Bangor have worked really hard in developing their worksite wellness program. What might seem like small steps to some organizations speak volumes about this leadership team. With Lynne's persistence and Nick's leadership these two sites have accomplished a lot, the removal of the cigarette machine from the break room, adding a cold vending machine with healthy food options, adding healthier food options to the dry vending machine, adding healthy food options to company functions, annual physical activity challenges, Weight Watcher at Work, TOPS, HRA's, biometrics and coaching for staff and spouses, and supporting safety initiativese. Despite early setbacks the resilient wellness team continues to grow and thrive.
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Thank you for your commitment to the health and wellbeing of our community. Please contact us if we can be of assistance in supporting your southern Kennebec community's quality of life.
Sincerely,
Joanne Joy, Director
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Amy Wagner, Adult and Worksite Wellness Initiatives Program Manager
Nationally Certified Worksite Wellness Program Consultant
Healthy Communities of the Capital Area
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