WIESBADEN, Germany - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe District employees were twisting and bending, running and walking, receiving assessments and gaining knowledge - all in the name of wellness.
The district held its annual Health Fair May 3-12 at the Amelia Earhart Center to promote occupational wellness and health.
“I think it’s important to promote wellness in the workplace through events like the health fair because so many times people get wrapped up and overwhelmed with the work they have. This leads to stress which can cause health problems,” said Rebecca Gray, the district’s industrial hygienist, who organized the health fair.
Gray teamed up with U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Health Promotion Officer Tahroma Skugrud to develop this year’s health fair, which included a wide variety of activities such as bodyweight exercise and fitness equipment demonstrations, self-defense and yoga classes, ergonomic work station assessments, a 5K Fun Run/Walk, health evaluations, CPR courses, and Ashiatsu massages. These activities tie into the Army’s Civilian Fitness Program and the garrison’s Comprehensive Community Fitness Program.
“Employees who participate in programs such as the Civilian Fitness Program tend to be happier, healthier people inside and out of work,” Skugrud said. “The district is on-board with making employee wellness a priority by supporting the Civilian Fitness Program for the second year in a row.”
The program encourages civilians to exercise regularly. Employees are allotted up to three one-hour sessions per week to improve their physical fitness. The program requires a health screening and supervisory approval prior to participation and is designed to be completed within six months.
Mark Roncoli, deputy district engineer, said the district focuses not only on physical fitness, but overall wellness.
“We have a dynamic and challenging mission here and it requires the very best out of our people,” said Roncoli. “We recognize we need fitness of mind and body to not just cope, but excel. The district encourages activities such as the Civilian Fitness Program to generate positive energy.”
“It is clear that employee wellness is important to the leadership,” Skugrud said. “Workplaces such as these that promote wellness programs help employees and their families to be healthier.”
Heath Drako, district facility manager and avid athlete, believes in the importance of wellness.
“I would like to see more people put on their running shoes, get on their bikes, and hits the streets. Just get off the couch. Exercise works; I’m 43 going on 30!” Drako said.
Being active and taking part in an employer sponsored wellness program can improve employee morale and productivity while lowering the rate of absenteeism. According to Drako, the Civilian Fitness Program is a win-win for employers and employees.
The health fair was designed to appeal to all types of employees and encourage a high level of participation noted Gray. Occupational health, a key element of total wellness, was included in this year’s line-up.
“In a healthy work environment, employers strive to protect employees from job-related injuries by providing safe working conditions,” said Gray.
A vast majority of district employees sit at a desk day in and day out, Gray noted. Extensive research suggests that properly set up workstations can improve productivity, preserve health and prevent repetitive strain injuries.
Barbara Smith, an occupational health nurse, conducted ergonomic assessments during the health fair. In terms of ergonomics, Smith says prevention is the key. She was on site to check employee workstations and provide advice on how to ergonomically optimize workspaces.
“When young people first enter the workforce, especially the military, they are generally healthy, but that doesn’t last forever. Teaching the right habits early on when employees are young is important.”
The most common health concern Smith encounters in office settings is carpal tunnel syndrome followed by back problems.
“Over the years, people who sit improperly will have issues. With good habits, when folks get older they won’t have neck and back problems,” Smith said.
In her assessments, she encountered many employees who have tried to adapt to their workstations. In actuality, workstations should have been adapted to employees’, not the other way around.
Nikki Bolz, a certified personal trainer working with district employees, said clients start out by focusing on the physical dimension of wellness with a goal of looking and feeling better, but what they actually end up with is something far greater than expected.
“When we reach optimal health, we interact with our co-workers more positively, we decrease the amount of stress that we create, and we actually gain more energy by being active. Carving just 15 to 20 minutes out of the workday three to four times a week will have a positive impact on productivity and relationships within the workplace."
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