COLUMBUS, OH – The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and the Healthy Ohio Business Council (HOBC) will recognize 46 Ohio employers for healthy worksite practices during the 11th annual Healthy Ohio Healthy Worksite Awards ceremony.

The ceremony will be held at noon on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015, at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, Ohio as part of the Health Action Council 2015 Annual Conference. The conference features national experts on health reform, health care systems and health benefits.

“Poor nutrition, inactive and sedentary lifestyles, tobacco use, and alcohol and drug use limit our potential to be productive Ohioans. This is why a comprehensive approach to preventive health and wellness at worksites is an essential part of improving both the health of Ohioans and the overall success of our state,” said Dr. Andrew Wapner, Chief of the Bureau of Healthy Ohio at ODH. “Healthy Ohio Healthy Worksite Award winners are leading the way in this effort by making a healthy work environment a priority for their employees.”

A total of 71 companies, cities and townships applied for the 2014 awards, which recognize Ohio employers who demonstrate a commitment to employee wellness through comprehensive worksite health promotion and wellness programs. Applicants are scored on the extent their wellness programs facilitate and encourage employee health, enhance productivity and ensure a healthy work environment. The awards are sponsored by Provant, a leader in population health management strategies and customized worksite wellness services that support employee well-being and productivity and healthcare cost containment.

“Employee health and wellness efforts result in major benefits for both employer and employee,” Helene Szczerba, chair of HOBC said. “Positive returns on investment are realized in employees who improve their health resulting in decreased rates of absenteeism and increased productivity. Employers also realize reductions in health care costs and an overall increase in productivity and job satisfaction.”

All worksites, large and small, public and private, for profit and nonprofit, are encouraged to apply for the Healthy Ohio Healthy Worksite Award. All applications are reviewed and evaluated by members of HOBC. The three levels of achievement are awarded in Gold, Silver or Bronze. All other applicants who meet basic criteria receive a Recognition award. Increasing the number of worksites receiving awards is an objective in Ohio’s Plan to Prevent and Reduce Chronic Disease: 2014-2018, and the objective is being led by HOBC.

The 2014 Healthy Ohio Healthy Worksite Award recipients are:

Small Business, ≤ 300 employees; Medium Business, 301-1000 employees; Large Business, 1001+employees

Small Business (11 awards)
Gold Award: Tri-Rivers Career Center
Silver Award: LifeCare Alliance; The Dupps Company; Henry County Hospital; City of Montgomery; Sika Corporation; KDMC Ohio
Bronze Award: Horan; Excellas, LLC; Hartzell Propeller, Inc.; RW Beckett Corporation

Medium Business (17 awards)
Gold Award: Park Place Technologies; Community Hospitals and Wellness Centers; MillerCoors; Vita-Mix Corporation
Silver Award: DTR Industries, Inc; Greater Dayton RTA; Online Computer Library Center; Ashtabula County Medical Center; IGS Energy; Colgate Palmolive; North Star BlueScope Steel, LLC
Bronze Award: Fulton County Health Center; City of Kettering; Pickaway County Health Commissioners; Western Reserve Hospital; ms consultants, inc.; Automated Packaging Systems

Large Business (18 awards)
Gold: Mount Carmel Health System; Eaton Corporation; Lake Health; Union Hospital; American Showa, Inc.
Silver Award: GE Aviation Evendale; Southern Ohio Medical Center; Cincinnati Children’s Hospital; Youngstown State University; Nationwide Children’s Hospital; Mercy Medical center; The Dispatch Printing Company; Cuyahoga County; American Greetings
Bronze Award: Sterling Jewelers; Tri-Health; Westfield Corporation; YMCA of Greater Dayton

For more information and to register for the Health Action Council 2015 Annual Conference in Columbus, visit www.hacannualconference.org.

For more information on the Healthy Ohio Healthy Worksite Award program visit:
http://www.healthy.ohio.gov/en/businesses/howkawd.aspx.

ms consultants, inc. Wellness Program

The Wellness at Work program is a comprehensive approach to wellness inside and outside of the workplace for ms employees and their spouses. ms consultants, inc. provides workshops, group programs, individual health coaching, and challenges to address the needs and desires of participants, including a weight loss program, pedometer contest, and recreational sports clubs. During this year’s annual pedometer contest, ms employees walked over 35,924 miles in the 8-week program; a distance greater than the earth’s equator!

About ms consultants, inc.

ms is a multidiscipline engineering, architecture, and planning firm for the transportation, environmental, architecture, commercial, oil and gas, railroad, and construction industries. Founded in 1963, ms is now in its second generation of family ownership. Today, the firm has nearly 400 employees among nine offices in Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. ms consistently ranks as one of the “Top 500 Design Firms” by Engineering News-Record and was recently named a “Top 300 Architectural Firm” by Architectural Record.

Inquiries:

Krystal Paisley

ms consultants, inc.

P: 614.898.7100 / F: 614.898.7570

kpaisley@msconsultants.com