Total Worker Health®
How does the Total Worker Health (TWH®) approach benefit your organization?
Total Worker Health® (TWH) integrates protection from work-related safety and health hazards with the promotion of injury and illness-prevention efforts.
This holistic approach considers both work and non-work factors that influence health, leading to improved workforce health and productivity. By addressing traditional workplace safety and broader factors such as work organization, mental health, and lifestyle, TWH fosters a more resilient and healthier workforce.
Why is Total Worker Health (TWH®) Important?
The modern workplace is rapidly evolving due to technological changes, globalization, increased productivity demands, and shifting political landscapes.
These factors, along with changes in the workplace environment, such as climate change and public health concerns, necessitate a comprehensive approach to worker health and safety.
How can organizations engage employees and promote continuous improvement in Total Worker Health (TWH®)?
Organizations can engage employees and promote continuous improvement in TWH by involving workers in the development and refinement of TWH initiatives, including stress management, ergonomic practices, and healthy lifestyle choices.
Providing training on TWH principles and practices, focusing on the intersection of work and non-work conditions, is essential. Additionally, designing and implementing health promotion activities that improve worker well-being through better environmental and social supports can foster a more supportive and health-enhancing workplace.
The TWH framework includes several critical components:
Work Environment Assessment: Evaluates the current work environment to identify safety and health hazards and opportunities for improvement.
Framework Development: Creates a comprehensive TWH framework tailored to the organization, integrating safety and health with wellness and injury prevention.
Policy Formulation: Develops policies supporting a holistic approach to worker health, recognizing work as a powerful social determinant of health.
Integrated Risk Assessment: Assesses work and non-work risks to create a comprehensive approach to worker health.
Program Implementation: Implements TWH programs that address both work-related and non-work-related health influences.