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Workplace Health Promotion Programme

The Workplace Health Promotion Programme (WHPP) is being implemented by the Ministry of Health in workplaces throughout Singapore based on guidelines that were issued by the Tripartite Committee on Workplace Health Promotion (TriCom) in September 2000. The programme involves organisational, educational and economic activities designed to improve the health of workers, thereby improving the health of the community and the nation at large. The programme uses an integrated approach and co-ordinates with other relevant programmes, events or campaigns under the National Healthy Lifestyle Programme to achieve its goal.

History
In September 2000, the Tripartite Committee on Workplace Health Promotion (TriCom) presented a report with recommendations on expanding and improving workplace health promotion programmes in Singapore to the Ministry of Health (MOH). The Workplace Health Promotion Programme was thus implemented based on the committee's guidelines. WHPP encourages staff to take responsibility for their own health and helps them to make the healthier choice the easier choice. It emphasises on the creation of a work environment that adopts healthy behaviour. The WHPP also stresses on the need for employees to stay aware of healthy lifestyles and incorporate them into their personal lifestyles to be able to beat the rising health costs. Changing trends in lifestyles are seen as major factors in the changing trends of diseases. As a part of the programme the MOH distributes a working manual titled 'Health at Work' to organisations throughout Singapore. The manual serves as a guide to the organisations to set up a working committee, gather information on the profile of employees and utilise resources towards making the workplace a healthy place. It enumerates the benefits of having a healthier workforce with the results of higher productivity, reduced health care costs, decreased absenteeism, lower work-related injuries, higher job satisfaction and performance. The manual also helps in conducting a health audit.

The WHPP deals with various factors affecting employee health such as poor working conditions, tense working relationships, unclear work roles, poorly managed changes such as those in technology based jobs, lack of career development and conflicts between work, family and leisure. The programme features a suitable assessment of needs, evaluation methods and uses multiple strategies. It is custom designed and revolves around the needs of employees in a specific organisation. Being managed by people from the workforce of the same organisation, it acknowledges and supports workplace health and safety in a way that is best suited to the organisation. It relies on voluntary participation, is cost-effective, is sustainable over time and takes social justice principles into consideration. It conducts surveys to gather information and evaluate results. The programme aims to be implemented in at least 50% of the private sector workforce by 2005. Currently nearly all public sector organisations have an ongoing Workplace Health Promotion Programme. Strategies included in the TriCom report include integrating the WHP Programme with the productivity movement and collaborating with the occupational safety and health movement so as to create a comprehensive support infrastructure. It also includes the establishment of standards and indicators linked to business outcomes. It recognises achievement by an organisation to create and foster a commendable workplace health promotion programme by awarding the Singapore H.E.A.L.T.H. (Helping Employees Achieve Lifetime Health) Award to help them and assists them in their endeavours. The Singapore H.E.A.L.T.H. Award was introduced in 1998 and by 2000, 135 companies became proud recipients of the award.

Prior to the implementation of the Workplace Health Promotion Programme, there were other activities that focused on the health improvement of employees in a workplace. One of the earlier such activities included the organisation of a Tripartite Convention on Work Excellence through Joint Consultation, a workshop, in May 1983 with the representation of 22 unions and 281 participants. Ideas and opinions were exchanged between employees from all levels and different organisations. The workshop deliberated on matters pertaining to productivity improvements and overall work excellence. Four papers were presented to the participants with various recommendations from NTUC, NPB, ABC and SNEF. One of the points discussed was the promotion of the well-being of the employees, which both, the unions and management laid a high level of emphasis on. In 1992 as a part of the Healthy Lifestyle Campaign, the government embarked on a five-year S$25-million programme to enhance the health of its civil servants by covering activities such as health assessments, counselling, setting up exercise corners and providing nutrition talks. The programme was implemented by a steering committee made up of officials from the Health Ministry and the Productivity Board.

Description
The WHPP provides free consultancy services, training courses and educational seminars to organisations on workplace health promotion. It conducts industry-based promotional campaigns and administers the WHP grant. The WHP grant is valued at a maximum amount of S$5000 and is expected to be the organisations with an equal or higher amount. The programme helps in networking by providing opportunities and peer support among WHP facilitators from different organisations and also helps in developing a toolkit of handy references and resources such as the Best Practices in Workplace Health, an example-based assessment criteria and a Directory of Health Promotion Services. The programme co-organises international conferences and exhibition summits for local organisations to take part in.

Some activities of the Workplace Health Promotion Programme (WHPP) includes promoting healthy lifestyle activities such as encouraging staff to quit smoking and camaraderie amongst workers through greater community interaction such as sports activities. Unions and management are encouraged to collectively plan and organise workplace wellness programmes such as health education, physical fitness programmes and maintenance of health indicators such as walking tests to indicate the fitness level of staff. This also provides a platform for a greater interaction between the union and the management thereby setting the ground for better industrial relations. Workers are educated on improving their quality of lives by staying mentally and physically healthy, and health education for workers include stress management at workplace, promoting healthier eating habits, management of coronary heart diseases, diabetes, weight management, obesity combat and cholesterol management and encouraging physical exercise. Activity clubs are encouraged to be formed at workplace for the staff to take part in its events such as golfing clubs, archery clubs, jogging clubs, sea sports club, aerobics club, taekwondo club and weight training clubs.

Keeping in mind the objective of making the workplace a healthier place the WHPP introduced the Corporate Smoking Control Programme to prevent staff from going for the puff through workplace smoking intervention strategies. In 1994 smoking was banned in all air-conditioned offices and factories throughout Singapore as a part of the National Smoking Control Programme. Workplace smoking intervention strategies include the provision of in-house smoking cessation services to employees and sponsorship for employees to enrol in the smoking cessation programmes. Quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods are employed by organisations in achieving the objective of a decreased smoking rate within a certain time-frame. The programme stresses safety and accident prevention through personal care and reviews the cafeteria menu in organisations to replace unhealthy food with healthier choices. Stress management programmes to control hypertension, diabetes and a host of other stress-related are conducted for workers.


Author
Naidu Ratnala Thulaja



References 
Ministry of Health. (1996). Promoting health at your workplace : a training manual for workplace health promotion facilitators (pp. 1-91). Singapore: Ministry of Health.
(Call no.: RCLOS 658.382 SIN)

National Trades Union Congress & National Productivity Board. (1983). Proceedings of the Tripartite Convention on Work Excellence through Joint Consultation, 29-30 April 1983 (pp. 1-9). Singapore: NTUC & NPB.
(Call no.: RCLOS 658.315 TRI)

Woon, K. C., & et al. (1992). Health is wealth: Higher productivity through workplace health promotion programme (pp. 2-69). Singapore: National Productivity Board.
(Call no.: RSING 658.382 HEA)

Ibrahim, Z. (1992, April 20). Health tests, counselling, talks for civil servants. The Straits Times, p. 22. 

Health Promotion Board. (2001-2002). The Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) Grant. Retrieved January 5, 2004, from hpb.gov.sg/hpb/pro/pro0305.asp

Health Promotion Board. (2001-2002). The Singapore H.E.A.L.T.H. (Helping Employees Achieve Life-Time Health) Award. Retrieved January 5, 2004, from hpb.gov.sg/hpb/pro/pro0302.asp

Health Promotion Board. (2001-2002). Workplace Health Promotion Programme. Retrieved January 5, 2004, from hpb.gov.sg/hpb/pro/pro03.asp


Further Readings
Ministry of Health & Food and Nutrition Department. (1993). Providing healthier menu choices: Handbook for management and workplace canteen operators. Singapore: Author.
(Call no.: RSING 641.1042 PRO)

Ministry of Health & Training and Health Education Department. (1992). A healthier workplace: Clearing the air. Singapore: Author.
(Call no.: R 616.865 SIN)

Safety & Health Promotion Unit, & National Productivity Board. (1986). Zero accident at the workplace. Singapore: Author.
(Call no.: RSEA 614.852 ZER)

Tan, B. S. (1995). Health & Safety: The role of human resource manager. Singapore: Medi-Health Marketing & Consulting.
(Call no.: RSING 658.38 TAN)

CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls' School. (n.d.). Helping hands - government efforts. Retrieved January 5, 2004 from
cf2003.sngs.sch.edu.sg/text/h_govtefforts.html

Toh, C. M., Chew, S. K., & Tan, C. C. (2002, July). Prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in Singapore: a review of national health promotion programmes. Singapore Medical Journal, 43 (7), 333-339. Retrieved January 12, 2004, sma.org.sg/smj/4307/4307a1.pdf 

The information in this article is valid as at 2004 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Events>>National Campaigns
Politics and government>>Health
Employee health promotion--Singapore
Health promotion--Singapore
Health and medicine>>Healthy living
Law and government>>Public education

Librarian Recommendations
>> National Healthy Lifestyle Programme
>> National Smoking Control Programme


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