Unhealthy lifestyles draining Nova Scotia’s workforce: report
Posted Jun 21, 2010 05:54:54 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A new study of the Nova Scotia workforce shows unhealthy lifestyles are contributing to on-the-job fatalities.
A report card by Nova Knowledge found Nova Scotians eat, drink and smoke more than most places in Canada.
Researcher Chris Hornberger explains we have one of the highest per capita time-loss claims in the country.
“We have one of the worst records in the country,” she said. “It takes us longer to get back to work, on average, than most other jurisdictions in the country.”
Not to mention 32 on-the-job deaths.
Fifteen of those deaths were due to chronic health conditions – many of which were heart attacks.
Health Promotion and Protection Minister Maureen MacDonald points to the child obesity strategy
“Although this is not necessarily aimed at adults in workplaces the priority of this government is to try and break the cycle of unhealthy and chronic disease,”
The province has numerous health and safety initiatives, but nothing encouraging companies to create a healthier workforce.
