Employers talk worker safety
Employers from across Wearside gathered at a conference hosted by Sunderland City Council to discuss people’s health and wellbeing at work.
The event at Hope Street Xchange was organised by the Sunderland Workplace Health Alliance in partnership with Pioneering Care Partnership, and featured keynote speakers from the public, business and health sectors.
The Alliance is a multi-agency partnership between Sunderland City Council, local businesses, the NHS and the voluntary and community sector which aims to work collaboSunderland ratively to improve health and wellbeing within workplaces across the city
After a welcome speech by the Chair of the Alliance, Managing Director from Liebherr-Sunderland Works Ltd, Ralph Saelzer, he introduced the agenda and speakers for the day.
These included the Director of Public Health, Gillian Gibson, who addressed the delegates on the key health issues in Sunderland, while Denise Orange from Public Health England highlighted the role of work in people’s health and wellbeing.
There were also a series of information sharing sessions where individual businesses described how they support their employees, and tips for what works well in the workplace.
City Council Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, Councillor Dr Geoffrey Walker said; ”People spend the majority of their day at work, so it’s vitally important for them and their employers to have safe, healthy and productive workplaces.
“How to achieve that isn’t always clear, so events like these have a massive role to play in sharing advice, ideas and experiences.
“The Sunderland Workplace Health Alliance plays a lead role in the city, but its long- term success is dependent on the continuing support of employers from across the city.
“I’d like to thank all the businesses who took part in this event and invited others to join us in the year ahead.”