The farm business health model - A guide to developing and implementing the workplace health system for farm businesses

Section 1: The Workplace Health System

The Farm Business Health Model is part of Health and Welfare Canada's Workplace Health System, a comprehensive approach to health promotion programming. The System incorporates Five Guiding Principles and Three Avenues of Influence on health.

Five Guiding Principles

The Workplace Health System rests on the following five principles:

1. Meet the needs of all employees, regardless of their current level of health;
2. Recognize the needs, preferences and attitudes of different groups of participants;
3. Recognize that a person's lifestyle consists of an interdependent set of health habits;
4. Adapt to the special features of each work environment;
5. Support the development of a strong workplace health policy.

These guiding principles are essential to developing a successful Workplace Health System, and are described in more detail below.

Principle 1: Meet the needs of all employees, regardless of their current level of health.

Programs should be designed for all employees:

• those with serious health problems;
• the majority, whose lifestyles may place their health at risk in some way;
• those who are generally well, but need to maintain their health.

Principle 2: Recognize the needs, preferences and attitudes of different groups of participants.

Because everyone is different, everyone has different needs. A well-established farmer may have a measure of economic security but may have neglected his health over the years. A farmer can also have a closed mind when it comes to good farm safety practices for his family and employees. Another farm may be on shaky ground financially and all the personnel involved with that farm will feel the effects of the stress. Any program that is developed will need to respond to the needs and preferences of everyone. It must be a joint effort involving farm owners/managers and their employers

Principle 3: Recognize that a person's lifestyle consists of an interdependent set of health habits.

The design of a health program should reflect the interdependency of health issues. For example, a weight control program needs components covering healthy eating, enjoyable physical activity and positive body image.

One component alone is not usually enough for a program to work. The Three Avenues of Influence help to identify programs that build on one another to meet all an individual's needs.

Principle 4: Adapt to the special features of each work environment.

Every farm has its own operating procedures, structures and culture. Larger farms are generally more mechanized, requiring conscientious, skilled workers;  the more sophisticated the operation is, the less manual labour is required. Tasks on smaller farms may require less skill, but may mean a great deal of heavy lifting and hard work because older methods are used. Both types of farm need supportive environments so employees can take greater responsibility for their health and safety.

Principle 5: Support the development of a strong workplace health policy.

A comprehensive health policy should convey the same level of support and concern for both the farm family and the farm employees. Having healthy employees is an important part of a successful farming operation.

Three Avenues of Influence

The Workplace Health System also brings together three equally essential factors that influence how well people say they feel:

1. Environment
2. Personal resources
3. Health practices

The diagram below illustrates the interdependence of the three avenues.