Read about a company that has successfully used health fairs to build employee awareness of health issues and encourage lifestyle changes.
The company we’re going to feature today is our own, Business and Legal Resources (BLR), the company that brings you Safety Daily Advisor and provides companies nationwide with solutions for safety, human resource, environmental, and compensation compliance as well as a broad spectrum of training and information programs for all levels in the workplace.
BLR, which has facilities in Brentwood, Tennessee, Old Saybrook, Connecticut, and Alameda, California, employs about 215 people.
Human Resources Generalist Andrea Maturo organized the company’s first health fair in 2006. Not knowing how labor intensive the effort might be, Maturo asked BLR’s insurance broker for help planning the event. The broker consented and has continued to be involved.
Maturo also reached out to a number of businesses and community service providers to provide the fair’s content—demonstrations, information, challenges, sign-ups, etc. The vendors have changed over the years, but the basic structure of the fair has remained the same.
Among the current offerings:
- Demonstrations of acupuncture, massage, and Reiki stress-reduction treatments
- Body fat assessments conducted by a local Visiting Nurses’ Association
- Tips about family dental care from a local pediatric dental office
- A healthcare quiz offered by a local physician
Other vendors include holistic health counselor, a local hospital, the company’s health insurance provider, and financial professionals.
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"We hold the health fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and encourage employees to come in on company time," says Maturo. The fair takes place during the fall, before open enrollment period, and is strongly supported by top management. A raffle or other enticement and giveaways help build interest.
Maturo makes sure to get feedback from employees and from vendors, which is used to make changes to the following year’s event. Participation has grown, and the health fair is now a regular feature of BLR’s annual calendar.
Over the years BLR has extended it’s health and wellness offerings beyond the 1-day fair. The fair has spawned a "BLR Green Team" that holds an annual "green fair" to engage employees in environmental awareness and action.
After 90 days on the job BLR employees are eligible for an annual health club reimbursement of $300 or approximately half the cost of local gym or Y membership. The money is reimbursed through payroll and can be applied to other active pursuits such as dance or swim lessons and weight-loss programs (meetings, not food).
Like many smaller companies, BLR does not have an on-site gym. However, employees commonly get together during breaks and lunch to walk, even during the winter.
"I encourage other businesses to try a health fair," Maturo says. "It can be a relatively minimal expense with great benefits for employees, and not as much work as you might think."
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Each Safety Audit Checklists section contains:
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If this method of ensuring a safer, more OSHA-compliant workplace interests you, we’ll be happy to make Safety Audit Checklists available for a no-cost, no-obligation, 30-day evaluation in your office. Just let us know, and we’ll be pleased to arrange it.