Health & Wellbeing Awareness Week

Building on the continuing safety improvements in Poolbeg Generating Station, a health and wellbeing awareness initiative was organised to help staff develop a healthy mind and body.

Health & Wellbeing Awareness Week ran from Monday, March 4th to Friday, March 6th. A variety of events took place which included:

• Healthy Eating: during the week a healthy eating programme was encouraged in the canteen, with the provision of healthy food, a reduction in the availability of high fat content food, introduction of a salad bar and the commencement of a free fresh fruit initiative.
• Healthy Living: encouragement during the week for all staff to participate in exercise including, organised lunchtime scenic walks, details of bikers incentive and a nurse on site to check blood pressure.
• Healthy Mind: Poolbeg is a pilot station for the roll-out of the Healthy Mind Workshop in ESB Power Generation by Occupational Health Services. This workshop provides staff with the information and tools to enable them to keep the mind in good health and encourage a healthy work life balance.
• Guest Speakers: talks were given by Occupational Health on the services offered and OHS nurse offered tips on a healthy lifestyle. A guest speaker from the Marie Keating Foundation spoke on male cancer prevention, and a representative from NISO spoke on work-related diseases.

In addition, a staff survey was carried out to get a better understanding of staff views in this important area. Each staff member received a free Pedometer with their questionnaire and were also entered into a draw. Feedback from the survey is being analysed and will be used to introduce some on-going initiatives.

Overall, the week was a big success with high attendance and praise for the presentations and workshops which can be built on in the future.