Marko Body Repairs was the first smash repair shop to benefit from a pioneering service for people in the motor trade - the Tradies Tune Up (TTU). Frank Arsego, TTU coordinator for OZHelp in the ACT, explains.
Marko Body Repairs of Mitchell in the ACT took a proactive approach to the mental and physical health of its staff and held a Tradies Tune Up (TTU) event at the shop. Mental health charity OZHelp developed the program and is specifically targeting it at the motor industry, where depression and ill health have been identified as significant issues.
The TTU program provides workers with a quick health assessment while on the job. These health checks or ‘tune ups’ take approximately 15 to 20 minutes and include:
- Cholesterol check
- Weight measurement
- Depression awareness
- Diabetes risk assessment
- Alcohol consumption
- Blood pressure check
- Waist measurement
- Stress awareness
- Nutrition check
- Smoking dependence
Each participant receives a wallet card stating their results against ‘normal’ or ‘healthy’ levels, and recommendations for improvement made by a registered nurse (RN). Health brochures providing more information on each check are also available to participants, as well as information on other major health issues.
Risk factors
Staff employed in blue collar and associated industries are regarded as a high risk group for negative health outcomes, often due to a combination of poor working conditions, generally higher alcohol consumption, smoking, poor diet and lack of exercise.
Longer working hours and the pressure of deadlines can also be contributing factors to this high risk group. In addition, there are a large number of people from culturally diverse backgrounds, which can present challenges due to language barriers.
The Tradies Tune Up program is delivered by an OzHelp field officer and an RN. They assist in raising the awareness of personal preventative health and encourage workers to be proactive and take the necessary steps, however small, to improve their health and wellbeing before issues affect on their personal and working lives.
The program also allows participant to receive information, support, advice and referral if appropriate, allowing for early intervention.
Some of the key strengths of the TTU are:
- Confidential
- Quick
- Go to the workers
- Immediate feedback
- Flexible and adaptable
- Free to workers
- Simple for sites to plan and host
- Consistent TTU team
Free service
The impetus for Marko Body Repairs to host the TTU evening was to support an employee who was struggling with personal issues. The event was co-ordinated with Marko’s administrator Bev Stevens, who felt she needed extra help to manage the situation.
“We had a concern about one of our employees and needed additional help to support him,” Stevens says. “It was great to find a free service that could come to the workplace and help us. All of our workers participated in the TTU and they all felt it was a positive and informative experience.”
The TTU events are supported by the ACT government and are a free service to the motor trade and associated industries in the ACT, some areas of rural NSW and the Northern Territory.
For more information, see www.ozhelp.org.au or call (02) 6251 4166.