Promoting a healthy lifestyle is pivotal in averting these health challenges. Simple yet impactful practices include:
- Nutrition: Adopting a balanced and nutritious diet.
- Fitness Maintenance: Sustaining fitness levels, strength, and mobility.
- Adequate Sleep: Ensuring sufficient and quality sleep.
- Substance Control: Limiting the intake of alcohol and other substances.
However, the construction environment often presents obstacles to adopting these practices. Factors such as extended workdays, regular commuting between sites, and limited on-site facilities hinder the establishment of healthy habits, especially regarding diet.
To counter these challenges, the key lies in collaboration and consultation with workers to pinpoint solutions. WorkCover Queensland advocates for implementing programs that empower all workers to participate, access support, and modify their lifestyle. Several construction companies have already initiated impactful programs, yielding positive outcomes for workers and the broader industry.
Exemplary Programs:
'Your Health, Your Future' by BERT/Baulderstone: A collaborative initiative involving BERT, Baulderstone, construction unions, and subcontractors. The program, implemented during the construction of the Gatton Correctional Centre, showcased:
- 5–15% improvement in health metrics.
- 25–35% reduction in blood pressure and nutrition scores.
- A collective weight loss of 111.90kg.
Bussta Gut Challenge by Builders Labourers Federation: Launched with support from BUSS(Q) Superannuation Fund, this initiative focused on:
- Health checks and ongoing education for 100 workers.
- Participants collectively shedding 178 kilograms and reducing waist circumference by over 300 centimeters.
For more insights on supporting workers in achieving a healthy lifestyle, including access to tools and resources, contact the WHS Infoline at 1300 362 128. WorkCover Queensland is committed to advancing the well-being of construction workers.