Clarity Environmental has undertaken mental health first aid training to establish positive mental health goals and develop appropriate support systems for its employees.
The latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have once again identified the waste sector as one of the most dangerous in the UK. The average for industries was a 3.1% rate of work-related ill health per 100,000 workers in 2018/19, but the waste industry sees significantly higher rates of 4.5%. The results estimate 6,000 work-related ill health cases annually (new or long-standing). Three-quarters of these were suffering from musculoskeletal disorders or stress, depression or anxiety. With 0.6 million work related stress, depression or anxiety cases in 2018/19, across all industries in the UK, it is important that workplaces are factoring the importance of employees’ mental health and wellbeing.
As part of our wellness drive at Clarity, seven members of the team completed a two-day mental health first aid training course. Undertaken to help break down the associated stigma of mental ill health, and to ensure non-judgemental support that will signpost colleagues to appropriate professional help, should they be struggling.
With estimates of 28.2 million working days lost to work related ill health and non-fatal workplace injuries in 2018/19, it is essential that, within the waste and resources industry, more emphasis is put on ensuring positive mental health, more often resulting in far greater productivity, fewer sick days and feel more engaged.
Our monthly wellbeing campaigns, starting in February 2019, were started to give the Clarity team opportunities to aid their mental and physical health, undertaking activities to improve or maintain their wellbeing. Five ways commonly identified to do this are; connect, be active, take notice, keep learning and give. Our wellbeing campaigns have included lunchtime learning of creative skills, screen free lunch hour challenges, drives to use lunch breaks to walk or spend time outside. These are run alongside our personal training sessions, run three times a week, and yoga classes, all held at our Brighton-based office.
Most episodes of mental ill health are short lived and through promoting open communication and offering effective services for employees a drive for wellbeing for staff can help to increase retention of staff, improve the general atmosphere at work and cut the estimated £35 billion cost of mental ill health last year alone.
Working for Clarity
Our most important asset is our people; their ideas, talents and dedication are the key ingredients of our success. We believe in providing a working environment that allows our people to grow, both professionally and personally, and one that makes our employees feel involved and valued. Find out more about what it is like to work at Clarity on our website.
