Promoting the Health, Safety, and Wellness of Federal Workers: NIOSH and Partners Offer Strategies in Sept. 14-16 Symposium

Contact: Fred Blosser, (202) 245-0645

Strategies and practical steps for promoting the health, safety, well-being and ultimately, productivity, of America’s approximately 2 million federal workers will be offered at a Sept. 14-16, 2011, symposium in Washington, D.C., sponsored by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and partners.

The three-day symposium, “Healthier Federal Workers 2011,” will explore health needs in the federal workforce, evidence-based interventions for workplace health protection and work-based health promotion, examples of successes and challenges from real life, and anticipating the on-going needs of a diverse and changing worker population and workplace landscape.

Evidence-based ways to protect and support the health of older workers, help workers balance work and family needs, organize work for optimal worker health, incorporate nutritional and physical activity programs, and better integrate traditional occupational health and wellness programs are among the topics to be discussed.

"Federal workers provide critical services that America's families and communities rely on every day," said NIOSH Director John Howard. "We are pleased to join with our partners and stakeholders to address the health needs of this dedicated workforce in a holistic way to promote total worker health, and to help federal workers and employers successfully meet the challenges of the 21st century work environment."

"Healthier workers are more productive workers," said Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director John Berry. "Leading private sector employers have embraced workplace wellness programs to reduce health care costs and increase productivity, and the Federal government is following their lead. OPM is committed to our workers, and to providing agencies the tools to help workers become healthier, happier and more productive. OPM is pleased to co-sponsor this symposium."

The symposium will be held at the Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center. More information about registration and agenda can be found at www.eagleson.org/healthyfeds. In addition to NIOSH and OPM, co-sponsors include the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Occupational Health, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Eagleson Institute.

NIOSH is the federal agency that conducts research and makes recommendations for preventing work-related injuries and illness. More information about NIOSH can be found at www.cdc.gov/niosh.