These health problems can lead to absenteeism, reduced productivity, and increased healthcare costs for both the employee and the employer. 

In addition, employees who live a healthy lifestyle are more likely to be alert and focused while at work. They are also more likely to have good hand-eye coordination and motor skills, which can help to prevent accidents. Additionally, healthy employees are more likely to be able to cope with stress and fatigue, which can help to reduce the risk of accidents. 

Specific examples of the impact of a healthy lifestyle on workplace health and safety 

• Reduced absenteeism: Employees who are healthy are less likely to get sick and miss work. This can lead to significant savings for employers, as they do not have to pay sick leave and do not have to find and train replacements for absent employees. 
• Increased productivity: Healthy employees are more likely to be alert and focused at work, which can lead to increased productivity. Studies have shown that employees who consume a healthy breakfast are more productive than those who skip breakfast. Additionally, employees who exercise regularly have more energy and are better able to concentrate, which can also lead to increased productivity. 
• Reduced risk of accidents: Healthy employees are more likely to have good hand-eye coordination and motor skills, which can help to prevent accidents. Additionally, healthy employees are more likely to be able to cope with stress and fatigue, which can also help to reduce the risk of accidents. 
• Reduced healthcare costs: Employees who live a healthy lifestyle are less likely to develop chronic health conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and obesity. These health conditions can lead to significant healthcare costs for both the employee and the employer. 

Employers can play a role in encouraging employees to live a healthy lifestyle by offering wellness programs and by creating a healthy work environment. Wellness programs can provide employees with information and resources to help them improve their diet, exercise habits, and overall health. Creating a healthy work environment can involve things like providing healthy food options in the cafeteria, offering on-site fitness facilities, and encouraging employees to take breaks throughout the day. 

Specific things employers can do to promote a healthy lifestyle in the workplace 

• Provide wellness programs: Wellness programs can provide employees with information and resources to help them improve their diet, exercise habits, and overall health. Some examples of wellness programs include: 

• Weight loss programs 
• Smoking cessation programs 
• Stress management programs 
• Nutrition counselling 
• Fitness classes 

• Foster a healthy work environment: Employers can create a healthy work environment by: 

• Providing healthy food options in the cafeteria 
• Offering on-site fitness facilities 
• Encouraging employees to take breaks throughout the day 
• Providing ergonomic workstations 
• Promoting a culture of safety and wellness 

By encouraging employees to live a healthy lifestyle, employers can improve employee health and safety, reduce absenteeism, increase productivity, and reduce healthcare costs. 

The iProtectU health and safety software provides: 

• An inspection and Audit App which allows for safety inspection of the workplace and associated report 
• eLearning on a wide range of EHS topics 
• Scheduling functionality for managers to send eLearning, risk assessments and documents out to all staff via the software with tracks completion and compliance 
• Risk assessment templates covering work activities, events and equipment 
• Management system to document control the policy on health and safety at work 
• Method Statement module for the creation of various working instructions 
• Legal register that provides legislation guidance on health and safety at work 

• Incident investigation module that tracks incidents both with an app and via desktop 
• Hazard observation app where staff can report and record any concerns regarding health and safety at work to the organisation 
• Asset management App ensuring assets are recorded in the software