Cfmeu Promotes Healthy Competition

CFMEU Promotes Healthy Competition

- CFMEU 'Biggest Loser' Health Campaign
- New era for construction workers
- Construction industry health campaign gains support of Incolink and WorkHealth

Incolink and WorkHealth have put their combined weight behind the CFMEU's 'Biggest Loser' health campaign. The campaign kicks-off at 2pm on Wednesday 13 October with an official launch and weigh-in at the Melbourne City Baths; where 8 CFMEU members will step up to challenge.

Incolink CEO, John Glasson said this latest health initiative builds on Incolink's existing partnership with WorkSafe Victoria to promote better health within the construction industry through the WorkHealth initiative.

"The CFMEU biggest loser campaign is a fantastic opportunity for this partnership to continue to support health initiatives within the building and construction industry," John Glasson said.

"To date, Incolink has helped thousands of construction workers learn more about their health through a free onsite WorkHealth check. The CFMEU's 'Biggest Loser' campaign will continue our work by helping a group of workers make significant lifestyle changes, as well as offering CFMEU members important health information and advice in an engaging and accessible way."

WorkHealth Director, Pam Anders, welcomed the campaign as an innovative way to promote health within the building industry.

"We hope this campaign will encourage workers to take an active interest in their health and leads to even more businesses putting their hand up to support health in the construction industry," Ms Anders said.

"The first step, of course, is signing up to offer the free WorkHealth checks to their workers."

WorkHealth checks are confidential, 15-minute health assessments offered in the workplace. To date, Incolink has provided approximately 2,000 building and construction workers with a WorkHealth check. In addition, WorkSafe has delivered over 250,000 WorkHealth checks to workers across over 16,000 Victorian workplaces.

Delivered by trained health professionals, the WorkHealth checks provide workers with information about their health and lifestyle, including their risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease two of the most prevalent chronic health issues facing society today.

The CFMEU biggest loser will run from October until June 2011, with over $5000 in prizes for the workers who has lost the largest percentage weight (very similar to the TV show). The campaign aims to help the workers to lose weight in a safe and sustainable way. The CFMEU C&G Worker magazine will provide advice to the broader CFMEU membership on healthy lifestyle, diet and exercise relevant to construction workers.

ABOUT INCOLINK
Incolink is the trading name of the Redundancy Payment Central Fund Limited. It is a trustee company, established in 1989 by unions and employers in the Victorian building and construction industry to administer industry funds. Incolink also offers an extensive range of services that address many of the issues that people in the building and construction industry encounter, at work and in their personal lives.

Laura Kaczkowski
Incolink Marketing and Communications Executive
(03) 9668 3090
0402 039 275

ABOUT WORKHEALTH
WorkHealth is a Victorian Government initiative delivered by WorkSafe Victoria. The program aims to improve the health and wellbeing of workers and reduce the risk of chronic disease.

A key feature of the program is WorkHealth checks, which provide workers with the opportunity to receive a free, convenient and confidential health check in the workplace.

WorkHealth checks include a brief lifestyle survey together with measurement of blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and waist circumference. The checks are completely confidential, take around 15 minutes and are delivered by trained health professionals. Participants receive their results on their spot.

WorkHealth also supports employers in creating healthier workplaces through health promotion programs and grants.

For more information, or to sign your workplace up for WorkHealth checks, visit workhealth.vic.gov.au

SOURCE: Incolink