Pilbara Health Newsletter



	May 2009 e-Newsletter In this issue: Healthy turnout for Spec Check Expo Be Active challengers set the pace Anyone for tennis?

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Welcome to the May newsletter from the
Pilbara Health Team.

First and foremost, thanks to everyone for helping make my first few weeks on board so rewarding. I recently joined the corporate health team in Perth as a health advisor focusing on Fitness for Work and Wellness.

One of the highlights was a trip to West Angelas, where I participated in the Spec Check Health Expo and the launch of the Achieve Health program.

We were delighted to see more than 190 employees take time out to have a free screening assessment at the expo and learn more about their health status.

It really was heart-warming to witness such a big response because as health professionals we are driven to providing ways to ensure people enrich their lives by staying healthy.

Also in this newsletter, discover how some of our Be Active challengers are staying on track with their fitness regimes, and find out how tennis has become the game of choice in Dampier.

Health advisor Leanne Harvey welcomes shift supervisor (load and haul) Anthony Eagle to the Spec Check Health Expo.

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Leanne Harvey and
the Pilbara Health Team

Be Active challengers set the pace

Competitors are nearing the halfway mark in the 10-week Be Active Challenge to get fit and be in with a chance of clocking up a personal best.

The Achieve Health pedometer challenge is part of a Rio Tinto wide wellness campaign, encouraging teams to ‘step around Australia and New Zealand’ by recording individual steps on the way and raise their fitness levels.

Among the pacesetters in the Western Australian Premier League are Perth-based climate and energy advisor Heidi Westlake and her team players Jennifer Jones, Chantelle Gibellini and Kevin Munidasa.

Heidi is currently averaging around 10,000 steps a day by walking 8kms a day to and from work, and stepping out with her team at lunch-time.

She said: “Taking part in a pedometer challenge definitely encourages you to be more aware of being active on a daily basis, and the companionship of being part of a team helps to keep you motivated.”

Energy specialist and team mate Kevin agreed that daily exercise helps him stay focused on fitness throughout the week and he is keen to achieve new goals after competing in a triathlon this year.

The Be Active Challenge has also taken off in a big way at the West Angelas site, with more than 15 teams increasing their daily activity to improve their quality of life.

Spec_Check_Team

Healthy turnout for Spec Check Expo

West Angelas recently launched their first Spec Check Health Expo, with 195 employees from every area of the site turning up for a free health screen, assisted by six health care professionals.

Health advisor Jasmine Paterson said:

“The uptake was amazing and feedback from participants has been really positive, they are already looking forward to the next expo.”

Through the health initiative, employees were given the opportunity to check their health status onsite and receive feedback from the health professionals on what they were doing right and which areas they could improve on.

As part of the onsite assessments, blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, Body Mass Index (body fat measure), waist to hip ratio and flexibility were measured.

Participants at the event received an added bonus, in the form of an Achieve Health Starter Pack containing a health journal, pen, tape measure and wallet card explaining more about the program.

The West Angelas Health Team will be looking to run a Spec Check every six months to help people monitor their progress and stay on track with their health.

Due to the support of local supervisors, crews could attend from every area including plant, production, infrastructure, maintenance, planning, engineering, administration and management.

The West Angelas and Pilbara Health Teams would like to thank everyone at West Angelas for their support and interest in Achieve Health and the Spec Check Health Expo.

If you would like to find out more about Spec Check and Achieve Health, including online health risk assessments, please contact Pilbara Health.

Don’t die of embarrassment

Australia’s second biggest cancer killer is bowel cancer and some 80 Australians die from it every week.

This year’s awareness week starts on 13 June and as every year, the focus in on drawing attention to the fact that if detected early, bowel cancer is one of the most curable types of cancer.

Part of the campaign involves Red Apple Day which is on June 10 and a highlight of the week. The day is organised by the Bowel Cancer and Digestive Research Institute of Australia. Participation is as easy as eating a red apple - a nutritious source of dietary fibre. An important part of prevention of bowel cancer is a diet high in fibre, which can be sourced through a range of wholegrains, vegetables, fruit lean meat and fish.

If you are turning 50, 55 or 65, you are eligible for a free routine screening until December 2010. Talk to your GP about the risk factors and if you should have a test.

For more information, go to www.bowelcanceraustralia.org

Anyone for tennis?

Social tennis is a big hit with the utilities team at Parker Point in Dampier, regularly attracting around a dozen players every Thursday night from 6.30pm onwards.

Players of different abilities are invited to join in the weekly exercise night out, from beginners to ex-junior tennis champions.

And while attempts are made to match skill levels for the first 20 minutes of play, it’s anybody’s game in the second half.

Hydrocarbons superintendent Vince Lavery, who helped start the club, said the emphasis is always on fun and one of the great attractions of the night is the attitude of the players who take part.

“While everyone enjoys winning, there is no win at all costs that would dissuade the less skilled from taking part,” he said.

“Those who have attended regularly talk warmly of the team building and stress reduction benefits of the night and who knows, maybe there is a hidden Roger Federer in our midst?”

The weekly tennis night was made possible with the support of general manager of utilities Bennie Smith, who provided spare racquets and balls for newcomers, and team leader Hayley Dunn and Di Campbell who booked the courts. Contact the Pilbara Health team for more information about club.

For more information please call your local safety advisor or contact the Pilbara Health Team at health@riotinto.com.
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