Healthy Working Lives Awards

THREE major employers in Shetland have been recognised for excellence in promoting health at work, during a short ceremony in the Lerwick town hall, on Wednesday.

• NHS Shetland achieved the Gold Healthy Working Lives Award, only the second NHS Board in Scotland to do so;

• Voluntary Action Shetland also achieved the gold level, as well as receiving recognition for maintaining the Mental Health Commendation Award for three years;

• Shetland Islands Council achieved the bronze level award, through meeting Health & Safety requirements and having healthy eating and smoking policies in place.

The awards were presented by Sullom Voe Terminal manager Arthur Spence, a company that has held the gold award for four years.

Director of Public Health, Dr Sarah Taylor, who opened the ceremony, emphasised the importance of promoting health at work both morally and financially. 

It is estimated that 2.2 million working days are lost annually in Scotland through ill health, at a cost of £1.2 billion to employers. 

Healthy Working Lives is a national initiative to give practical support and advice to employers to help promote health at work.