Health wealth and happiness at work:

Higher productivity and safety management

Dr. K. Kuhathasan, CEO: CENLEAD

In a recent circular issued to all major factories in Sri Lanka, Factory, Inspecting, Engineer, Department of Labour, Eng. Laxman Graciyas Jansz has appealed to the managers of the factories to improve the health and safety standards aimed at higher productivity.

Occupational health has been defined not only as an absence of disease but also as a state of physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being.

“Firm commitment to protect the Health and Safety of your employees is a distinguishing factor in a competitive market. A certified Occupational Health and Safety Management System demonstrates your determination to safeguard your employees and the environment from harmful risks” the circular adds.

Occupational Health has been defined “not only as an absence of disease’ but also as a state of physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being”. The promotion of health in this broad sense is being increasingly viewed as the principal objective of modern industrial society.

Physical and Mental health

Healthy working conditions and a safe working environment contributes greatly to the physical and mental well-being of the people which in turn contributes towards their productivity efforts.

People at work spend as much as one-third of their time at their place of work. Thus the working environment exercises a decisive influence on their health and well-being.

The working environment, therefore, has a penetrative influence in moulding and shaping people’s general behaviour, their way of thinking and their physical and mental well-being.

The factors of stress at the place of work may be many and varied, depending on the degree of working environment.

Higher productivity

Productivity is directly related and linked to people’s health. Healthy people’s contribution towards higher productivity will be certainly much more than that of an unhealthy people.

Production will fall and productivity will fade if the work is undertaken by unwilling people directly as a result of ill health.

People ill health is caused mainly due to bad working conditions and an unsatisfactory working environment.

Satisfactory working conditions and a safe and healthy working environment keep people physically and mentally alert and stimulate active participation and contribution.

Stress at work

A better working environment also encompasses well organised work. Badly organised monotonous jobs, jobs requiring lesser skills, degrading jobs, may give rise to harmful levels of fatigue and stress.

The working environment in an organisation should be structured in such a way that it should reduce boredom and fatigue and increase satisfying the rhythm of work. Jobs must be made more satisfying through the process of a well established network of working environment in which people will take pride in their institution and perform well for that organisation.

Such a working environment should not damage, degrade, or humilitate people. On the other hand, it should utilize many of the varied skills and abilities they are gifted with and provide adequate opportunities for them to acquire further recognition.

There is compelling evidence to show that attitude exerts a powerful influence. Positive emotions, such as happiness and self-belief, tend to have stronger immune systems, to recover more quickly and to live longer than predominantly pessimistic people.

Mental health

Mental health is an expression of how we feel about ourselves, other people and our ability to meet the demands of life and work. Positive mental health helps us to maintain fulfilling relationships, to be productive, to adapt to change and to cope with adversity.

When the mind is constantly bombared by negative feelings, it becomes overloaded and exhausted. By worrying, we are using tremendous amounts of energy. The tension put on the mind by worries, whether real or imagined, may need more energy than physical work.

When worries get out of hand, energy resources are strained. Mental fatigue sets in, often resulting in wear and tear on the physical body as well. It is important to set aside some time each day for the mind to unwind and recoup its energies.

Mental relaxation is the ability to free the mind from nagging worries, fears and disturbing thoughts. It is about moving away from negative thoughts and emotions to the positive ones. “An empty mind is the devils workshop”. Keep your mind occupied with positive, productive and profitable goals. Healthy thoughts, healthy feeling and healthy attitude are essential for effective mental health.

Spiritual health

The spirit is the blend of the mind, soul and emotions. Man’s nature is a blend of three elements physical, mental and spiritual.

The harmonious development of any one of these factors depends upon the state of the other two. On a higher plane of life, there is emotional well-being, a sense of satisfaction at work and a positive outlook.

The natural outcome of these elements is a well balanced life and work which is in harmony with nature and everything around us. When one is in harmony with work and life, it leads to happiness and contentment.

With happiness and contentment comes the total health package consisting of a healthy mind, which is the most powerful element of human life and work. And this power that comes from within is not solely dependent on food or exercise alone.

An excellent working environment, appropriate working conditions and a climate conducive for job satisfaction, contributes towards physical, mental and spiritual health and well-being.