Manitoba Heavy Construction Association

14 SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019 A SUPPLEMENT TO THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS H eavy construction work is demanding, both physically and mentally. Employees are expected to use their bodies, oen pushing themselves to li heavy materials that can cause strain. And construction projects have deadlines, and meeting them adds mental stress, which can take its toll on the body, as well. e industry has traditionally concentrated on safety and prevention of injuries, and has done a good job of reducing incidents and their impacts on workers. Now, companies are starting to turn their focus on the mental stresses and emotional health of employees. Workplace health promotion is about preventing illness, injuries and accidents. But it also is about the health and well-being of employees. Workplace wellness is essentially any health promotion activity designed to support healthy behavior. When employees are in good physical condition and feel mentally supported, they're less likely to injure themselves and are able to stay productive. e stigma of mental illness, itself, is a hazard. It keeps employees silent in their suffering. Companies can remove the stigma by providing educational opportunities and enhancing awareness of mental illnesses through discussion. MHCA's WORKSAFELY™ team is working with safety partners, including SAFE Work Manitoba, to develop and deliver additional training on supporting mental health. Health Canada states people spend almost two thirds of their waking hours at work, so the workplace has a significant impact on workers' overall health, says Binudith Warnakulasooriya, physiotherapist at CBI Health Centre. "Your employees are your company's most valuable asset," says Warnakulasooriya. "Helping them stay healthy keeps your organization healthy – with reduced absenteeism due to illness, and increased productivity due to better health. "Promoting workplace wellness is one of the best investments you can make as an employer." Warnakulasooriya also emphasizes that investing in a wellness program or incentives also creates a healthy workplace culture. "When an employee feels their employer supports their well-being, they oen feel greater commitment to that employer." Many companies in the industry have wellness incentives such as exercise programs, smoking cessation resources or company sports teams. Maple Leaf Construction emphasizes overall wellness, firstly by protecting the health and safety of employees while at work. In addition, Mike Burtnick, Maple Leaf 's Safety Manager points out, "the company organizes sporting and fitness events, such as weekly hockey games as both fitness and team building activities. "I guess you can say that we are as Canadian as Canadian can be." At Nelson River Construction, the company emphasizes prevention in the workplace by encouraging, stretching and general fitness as work readiness to prevent injuries, noted Nelson River's human resource specialist, Jonica Hofer. Hofer says the company promotes wellness and encourages employee participation in fitness activities aer hours by subsidizing memberships at fitness facilities. Initiatives such as those at Maple Leaf and Nelson River reflect the realization that a healthier workforce means fewer injuries, improved productivity and lower absenteeism. Trevor Shwaluk, safety advisor at the MHCA's WORKSAFELY program, specialized in kinesiology as a graduate from the Physical Education program at the University of Manitoba. Shwaluk says taking a break for a moment to stretch or walk around equipment can be done throughout the day with planning. "We unknowingly perform these actions on a daily basis," he notes. "However, setting an alarm on your watch or phone to remind yourself one or two times per morning and aernoon gives an operator a change from sedentary positioning." A health and wellness program can help keep workers strong, on their feet and working for many years to come. ❱❱❱ YEARS OF SAFETY EXCELLENCE 3 0 • Metered Fuel Deliveries • Fuel Tank Rentals • Winter Road Deliveries • Fuel Tank Commissioning and Decommissioning • Temporary/Permanent Tank Farm Design and Set-up 1-800-665-4302 • penneroil.ca SERVICES: SERVICING SASKATCHEWAN, MANITOBA & ONTARIO HEALTH AND WELLNESS MORE THAN PREVENTING INJURIES B Y J A C K I E J O N E S Jackie Jones is an education and training advisor at MHCA's WORKSAFELY. Safety manager Mike Burtnick (front, right) and Maple Leaf Construction hockey team.

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