Free training aims to help Oklahoma employers boost worker safety

Oklahoma City — Employers in Oklahoma are encouraged to participate in a free training program with the goal of improving worker health, safety and productivity.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health is seeking public/private businesses and organizations to participate in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Work@Health program.   

“Work@Health not only provides tools and resources, but works with employers to identify specific priorities for their worksite and develop an action plan to address those specific issues,” Karin Leimbach, an OSDH Work@Health master trainer, said in a press release.

The program uses web-based and in-person training to cover a number of workplace health principles, including:

• Why having a workplace wellness program makes good business sense.
• How to assess the workplace health needs of organizations.
• How to plan, implement and create an environment that supports evidence-based workplace health programs, policies and practices that provide a return on investment.
• How to know if your workplace health and wellness program is working and how to continuously improve its quality.
• How to develop and leverage partnerships, community links and resources to support workplace health.

“Research shows that employees who have healthy diets and active lifestyles are less likely to suffer from chronic illnesses or disabilities that might hinder their job performance,” Leimbach said. “By implementing comprehensive, evidence-based programs, employers can improve worker productivity and build a culture of wellness that improves the bottom line.”