Staff get clean bill of health following screening

As part of the ongoing Health & Wellbeing programme for 2009, ESBI has already rolled out two initiatives covering health screening and stress awareness.

In February, a one hour programme called 'Work Positive' began. More than 200 staff were invited to a pilot session that included a presentation on stress, followed by an anonymous survey on stress in the workplace, delivered by an external facilitator. The event was designed to raise awareness of organisational stress factors including factors relating to work, the company environment and the demands placed by work.

Output from the Work Positive Programme will be fed back to staff within the next month and will be followed by the set-up of staff action groups responsible for exploring issues raised and implementing solutions.

A comprehensive health screening initiative has been availed of by 275 ESBI staff. Two nurses from the Irish Heart Foundation provided screening services for a period of 12 days in ESBI, Stephen Court, Dublin and carried out a range of checks including: blood pressure; cholesterol; glucose; triglycerides (fats); weight and height measurement; recommendations on healthy eating, alcohol consumption, physical activity and stress; and a carbon monoxide check (for smokers) accompanied by advice on quitting. One nurse commented that the availability of free fruit to staff is clearly evident in the positive screening results.