GMP Wins Healthy Workplace Gold Award
The Sun Guillemont Park campus was recently recognized by the local Hart District Council at the highest Gold Award as an organisation that is fully committed to the improvement of employee health. Sun also was presented with an Award for Outstanding Achievement. A huge congratulations to Sun GMP on their commitment to employee health!
Aware that poor health and safety management costs organisations a considerable amount each year in lost time, due to ill health, stress related conditions and musculoskeletal disorders, the scheme was started by Hart District Council, North Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hampshire Primary Care Trust and also sponsored by Frimley Park Hospital and Cardionetics Limited. There were three levels of award, Bronze, Silver and Gold. The Gold award is reserved for organisations that can demonstrate commitment to the improvement of the health of employees as well as meeting all the legal and statutory health and safety requirements. There were several specific legal requirements which required a full Health and Safety Policy detailing the organisation, roles and responsibilities and implementation plan. Risk Assessments, in particular those for Display Screen users, Noise, pregnant employees, use of chemicals and manual handling issues. Compliance with all health and safety regulations in the workplace had to be proved together with policies on smoking, evidence of help given to employees trying to quit smoking, promotion of physical activities, promotion of good nutrition and evidence of a comprehensive package of measures to manage stress in the workplace and generally promoting a sense of well-being amongst employees.
The application was prepared by the UK EHS team of Chris Hinchcliffe and Pauline Bettridge and backed with a manual containing all the above required documentation together with information on health screening, employee assistance programme, stress counselling, gym, well-being centre, concierge, sponsored clubs etc. to verify the application, along with employee feedback.
Heather Garrett (Sun UK HR Director) accepted the awards on behalf of Sun at a November 4, 2008 ceremony.
