Public Employee Press

QWL program promotes:
Healthy Living

By JANE LaTOUR

Quality of Work Life committees hosted health fairs at DC 37 that helped open the doors to healthy living for hundreds of union members in the Human Resources Administration and the Dept. of Health and Mental Health.

On June 13, DOHMH employees took time to learn about many ways they can change their lifestyles to improve their health. Booths on exercise, diet, mental health services, safe sex, and how to quit smoking were available at the fair.

The American Diabetes Association pitched “Physical Activity — the Best Move You Can Make” and showed how overweight and inactivity go hand in hand and contribute to risk factors for the deadly disease.

Local 768 members flocked to the fair and picked up booklets and fliers on ways to get healthier. “This fair has the information we need,” said John Ortiz, who has worked as a Pest Control Aide for 16 years. He was joined by a number of his workmates from the team that tries to control the city’s rat population. “We come every year because it’s important to know about a lot of these things,” he said.

The HRA Health Fair, held Sept. 19, provided facts on many programs and diseases. Detective Ralph Davis offered information on the programs offered to city youth by the Police Dept. Community Affairs Bureau. These include education about the consequences of gang involvement, child safety identification programs, the Police Athletic League, a summer youth employment program and much more. Davis, formerly an undercover narcoticsofficer, enjoys sharing his knowledge with young people. In addition, he teaches karate classes at the Frederick Douglass Academy in Harlem. “This is the Police Dept.’s way of helping our kids and keeping them out of trouble,” he said.

SSEU Local 371 member Ruben Archer learned something important by discussing his situation with representatives Andrea Thompson and Marie Diven Stelluti of the Mount Sinai Occupational Medicine Clinic. “I did work at the pier after 9/11 and I constantly walked through the WTC site,” he said. Archer found that he must register now with the Workers’ Compensation program for 9/11 workers to preserve his right to claim benefits if a 9/11-related illness strikes at any time in the future.

Local 1549 member Patricia Jennings, who has logged a lot of time on the keyboard, got helpful information about carpal tunnel syndrome. She found the materials describing the symptoms and treatment for the disease very informative. She also looked into information about diabetes.
“It all goes together — preventing occupational hazards and the other information we need to live healthy lives,” Jennings said.