29 March 2007 - Mental Health and Wellbeing Award from ‘ Scotland ’s Health at Work’
March 29, 2007 - Today, Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service (LBFRS) received the Scotland ’s Health at Work (SHAW) Mental Health and Wellbeing Commendation Award. Presented by Deputy Minister for Health Lewis Macdonald, LBFRS was recognised for real and measurable achievements in the area of workplace mental health and wellbeing, including:
- An overall reduction in work-related staff sickness absence
- Over 70% of managers have received training on work-related stress
- Meeting ‘Revitalising Health and Safety’ ill health/sickness absence reduction targets set by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
- Conducted a stress audit of all employees, with an associated action plan
- Employee access to the River Centre (Edinburgh), leaders in post traumatic stress disorders
- Employee access to external counselling services
- Extensive internal policies to address work-related stress
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commendation Award is part of SHAW’s National Award Programme that promotes health and wellbeing in the workplace. It has been created to meet the challenge of ensuring the continued success of Scottish industry. The programme brings benefits to employers as well as employees by helping create a healthier, more motivated workforce and reducing sickness absence.
Cllr Ken Harrold, Convenor of the Lothian and Borders Fire Board said: “This programme has had a tremendous impact within the Service. Firefighters, in their day to day jobs, can sometimes see and have to deal with very difficult situations. It is imperative that the Service treats this very seriously and assists them in any way possible to deal with that stress. Receiving this Award is recognition that LBFRS is making significant steps forward on the national stage when it comes to employee wellbeing.”
LBFRS achieved SHAW’s National Award Programme’s Bronze Award in February 2004, the Silver Award in December 2004 and was the first Fire and Rescue Service to receive that Gold Award in December 2005. E ach level set core, and additional criteria that must be fulfilled. With the receipt of the Mental Health Commendation Award, LBFRS becomes the first public service to receive all four awards.
Cllr Ken Harrold, Convenor of the Lothian and Borders Fire Board said: “We are very committed to ensuring that health and safety continues to be a priority in the Service and the achievement of this Commendation Award is something that the employees of LBFRS should be very proud of.”
Deputy Minister for Health, Lewis Macdonald said:
“This award recognises the achievements of Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service as an employer in making mental health issues a priority in the workplace. Healthier working environments for staff can bring benefits to employers too with reduced absenteeism, improved productivity, better motivation and less staff turnover. LBFRS demonstrate this as their dedication to workplace mental health and well-being has led to a reduction in work-related staff absence.
“Whilst work can form a key role in helping people to recover from mental health problems, sadly, it is often difficult for people with mental ill-health to secure and sustain employment. We are taking action to raise awareness of the stigma of mental ill-health through actions including our national see me advertising campaign, through direct liaison with employers and by offering Mental Health First Aid training courses to workplaces.”
Notes to Editors:
- The Confederation of British Industries calculations indicate that British industry is currently losing around £13 billion every year from sickness absence, the equivalent of 30 million working days and death rates in Scotland from heart disease, cancer and strokes are higher than in almost any western industrialised country.
- Audit Scotland , acting on behalf of the Accounts Commission for Scotland , gathers and publishes data on sickness levels in the Scottish fire and rescue services (FRS). The most up to date figures available cover the financial year 2004/2005. LBFRS is reporting a sickness absence rate for 2004/05 of 6.3% compared to a Scottish average across all other Fire and Rescue Services of 7.4%.
- LBFRS is reporting a sickness absence rate for 2005/06 of 5.5% compared to 6.8% in 1999/2000. These figures refer to wholetime operational staff.
- The number of reported injuries at LBFRS overall has decreased by 25% from 2004/05 to 2005/06.
- Scotland ’s Health at Work (part of the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives) is a National Awards Programme which rewards and recognises employers who demonstrate commitment to improving the health of their workforce.
Enquiries: Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service
Tel. 0131 228 2401
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