17/11/2004

Workplace has important role to play in health

Workplaces have an important role to play in contributing to the overall health of our community, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, said today.

DETI Permanent Secretary Bruce Robinson was speaking at the Inaugural Working For Health conference organised by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland.

It is estimated that up to 70,000 people in Northern Ireland suffer from ill health caused or made worse by work each year, costing the local economy up to £330 million per annum.

Mr Robinson said: “The health of the people of Northern Ireland is one of the overarching priorities for Government and without question workplaces have an important role to play in contributing to the overall health of our community.

“Impressive progress has been made to date under Working for Health, particularly by the Implementation Group and the five Programme Action Teams. However, there is still a huge task ahead and I would encourage everyone who has a role to play to fully support this groundbreaking initiative.”

Liam McBrinn, Chairperson of HSENI and Chair of the Workplace Health Strategy Implementation Group, officially launched a new resource at the conference - the Working for Health website.

Mr McBrinn said: “I am delighted to use today’s conference as a platform to officially launch the Working for Health website. As well as providing a means to highlight key developments in implementing the Working for Health strategy, the website provides a wide range of workplace health information, together with many useful reference sources for both employers and employees.”

Working for Health is a long-term workplace health strategy for Northern Ireland, which represents a commitment by Government Departments, District Councils, Employers, Trade Unions, Occupational Health Professionals and other key stakeholders to work in partnership to improve the standard of health in the workplace.

The new website can be accessed at www.workingforhealthni.gov.uk

(MB/SP)

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