• About FDF
• Our Priorities
• Members list
• News
• Policy Briefings
• FDF Responses
• The Industry
  • About the Industry
  • Industry stats and trends
  • Industry Case Studies
    • Culture, Media and Sport
    • Careers
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Exports
    • Fewer transport miles
    • Good Employer
    • Health and Wellbeing
    • Local Community
    • Reducing C02 emissions
    • Reducing packaging
    • Reformulation
    • Zero Waste to landfill
    • Water efficiency
    • Workplace Wellbeing
  • Industry Standards
  • Exports
  • Food Sectors
  • Manufacturing showcase
• Events
• Publications
• Campaigns
• FAQs
• Polls

Scotland active on health and wellbeing

Scottish food and drink manufacturers have spent much of the last year building upon their success around addressing the health and wellbeing needs of their employees.

Last year, the Scottish Food and Drink Federation (SFDF) teamed up with the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives (SCHWL) and the Food and Health Alliance (FHA) to promote healthier lifestyles among those employed within the industry. As part of this, a national pilot programme was established to provide support and guidance to food and drink manufacturers on promoting health within the workplace, such as advice on occupational health issues and information on the latest health and safety legislation.

Through the pilot, companies have had access to information on smoking cessation, healthy eating and physical activity, as well as advice on what they can do to increase the importance of health and safety more generally.

Over the past 12 months, food and drink manufacturers in Scotland have continued to place the wellbeing of their workforce as a top priority. SFDF is committed to supporting its members in establishing their own healthy workplace initiatives which make the connection between business success and improvements in health of employees.

Across the UK, in the ten-year period from April 1999 to March 2009, over 83,000 workers in the food and drink industries suffered an injury reportable to the Health and Safety Executive. Each year, around 19,000 workers in food and drink manufacturing (nearly 5% of the workforce) suffer from ill health caused or made worse by work.

In light of this, it has never been more important for companies in the sector to look at areas surrounding occupational health, including slips, trips and falls, back injuries and mental health issues such as stress. The SCHWL Healthy Working Lives Award encourages employers to promote a healthier workforce and covers a wide range of topics, from health promotion, occupational health and safety, employability, mental health and wellbeing, community involvement, and health and the environment.

The SFDF team are currently working towards achieving a SCHWL Silver Award. SFDF encourages all of its members to consider getting on board with workplace wellbeing projects – the benefits of which are there for all to see, from improved employee health to increased productivity.

More Information

FDF has published a booklet called Workplace Wellbeing: The Food Industry in Action (pdf, 984kb) which features many workplace wellbeing schemes .

top