Today, more than 80% of American businesses with 50 or more employees have some form of health promotion program—the most popular being exercise, smoking cessation classes, back care programs, and stress management. Most employers offer wellness programs simply because they think the benefit is worth the cost.

For many companies, medical costs can consume half of corporate profits—or more. Some employers look to cost sharing, cost wellness stands out as the long-term answer for keeping employees well in the first place.

Investing in employee wellness makes good business sense for companies that care about their employees, want to be supportive of their staff and want to maintain a healthy, safe work environment, and yet want to have a successful company. Here are six reasons why worksite wellness is worthwhile business investment.

REASON #1: Although we spend more dollars on health care than any other industrialized nation, our citizens are not the world’s healthiest.

REASON #2: Much of the illness in the US is directly preventable.

REASON #3: Healthcare costs are an issue of significant concern.

REASON #4: The worksite is an ideal setting to address health and well-being.

REASON #5: Recent research validates that health promotion programs can improve health, save money and even produce a return on investment.

REASON #6: More and more companies are building world-class wellness programs.

Adopted from WELCOA, Why health promotion makes good business sense.

Remember all the ergonomic standard battles about 10 years ago? The heralded standard was hotly contested and finally passed only to be dismissed during President Bush’s administration. Yet many within OSHA as well as other safety and health organizations remained convinced that the ergonomics must be addressed. This has now gained increasing attention since in January OSHA proposed to revise the OSHA 300 Log to restore a musculoskeletal disease (MSD) column as was originally proposed in the recordkeeping standard. While many believe this is the first step toward new rule making, OSHA insists it is not. Whether it is or isn’t, it’s worth paying attention to and it’s worth evaluating ergonomic issues at your company in order to take proactive measures to prevent MSDs. Prevention is key to increase comfort and productivity. MSDS related to ergonomic issues include for example, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, low back pain, trigger finger, and De Quervain’s syndrome. The proposed rule is at: http://www.oshalawblog.com

There is a lot of speculation about what changes are to be expected in the 2010 CPR Guidelines. Since the 2005 CPR Guidelines, there have been several studies published on the benefits of chest compressions and the detrimental effect of rescue breathing. Indeed, the American Heart Association took an unusual step when it endorsed hands-only CPR in mid-cycle, long before the 2010 CPR Guidelines are expected to be published.

Approximately every 5 years CPR Guidelines are reviewed and revisions considered. Eight international agencies systematically evaluate the science based evidence in order to establish what are considered the most effective guidelines. The 2005 CPR Guidelines contained several major changes from earlier CPR rules and instructors are anxiously awaiting the current 2010 recommendations.

Regardless of the new guidelines, the important issues are to ensure that trained and qualified personnel are available to perform CPR as quickly as possible and that emergency services are immediately contacted. The American Heart Association’s official scientific symposium is scheduled for November 2010. We’ll keep you posted as we learn about the new guidelines or you can keep watch at http://www.heart.org

The Report from the Advisory Committee on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines are now posted and public comments will be accepted until July 15, 2010. First published in 1980, the Dietary Guidelines are mandated by Congress to be reviewed, updated and released by the US Department of Agriculture and Health and Human Services every five years. The Dietary Guidelines contain the latest, science-based nutritional and dietary guidance information. This Report is not a rigid prescription, but rather a flexible approach that incorporates a wide range of individual food preferences. However, the 2010 Guidelines seem to emphasize a stronger stance on healthful eating as well as a broader, more social approach to supporting healthy lifestyles.

Currently Americans of all ages consume too few vegetables, fruits, high-fiber whole grains, low-fat milk and milk products, and seafood; instead eating too much added sugars, solid fats, refined grains, and sodium, while getting too little exercise. SoFAS (added sugars and solid fats) contribute approximately 35 percent of extra calories to the American diet. This is true for children, adolescents, and adults, and for both males and females. The dietary recommendations are based on healthful eating such as the DASH Plan, which replaces SoFAS with healthful nutrient-dense forms of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products thereby increasing intakes of nutrients and dietary fiber; limiting SoFAS to 150-200 calories a day or 15-20% of daily intake.

The Guideline Action Steps include:

Shift food intake patterns to a more plant-based diet that emphasizes vegetables, cooked dry beans and peas, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. In addition, increase the intake of seafood and fat-free and low-fat milk and milk products and consume only moderate amounts of lean meats, poultry, and eggs.

Significantly reduce intake of foods containing added sugars and solid fats because these dietary components contribute excess calories and few, if any, nutrients. In addition, reduce sodium intake and lower intake of refined grains, especially refined grains that are coupled with added sugar, solid fat, and sodium.

Meet the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. The guidelines recommend that children participate in at least an hour of moderate activity daily, and more vigorous activity 3 days a week. Adult recommendations are 2 hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate-intensity exercise with up to 5 hours and 30 minutes providing additional benefits. In addition, strength training is recommended at least twice a week for adults. Refer to: http://www.health.gov/paguidelines for more information.

Focus on children to prevent childhood obesity and instill healthy lifestyle patterns.

Utilize a social ecological approach and not just focus on individual change, but rather address the determining aspects that contribute to lifestyle issues including social, political, corporate, and media responsibilities. There is a need to address such issues as food option availability, affordability of healthful foods, and ways to involve communities, schools and businesses in supporting healthy lifestyles.

Emphasize food choices for health. Multivitamins and mineral supplements do not offer health benefits to healthy Americans. Individual mineral/vitamin supplements can benefit some population groups with known deficiencies, such as calcium and vitamin D supplements, or for example, during pregnancy.

For additional information go to www.dietaryguidelines.gov or contact Dimensions.

• Building A Well Workplace: Why Health Promotion Makes Good Business Sense
• Ergonomics: Is it Coming Back?
• CPR Guidelines
• Draft 2010 Dietary Guidelines Now Available