Page 18 - INTERNATIONAL SOS PR REPORT - April 2024

International SOS urges organisations to prioritise fostering positive safety
and health culture within workplaces during World Health Day

7 April, 2024 – International SOS, the world's leading health and security risk services

company, has prompted organisations to move beyond compliance and prioritise cultivating a
positive working environment that puts safety and health first during this World Health Day.
The company aims to shed light on the significance of this important occasion as a timely

reminder for companies to strictly ensure employee health and wellbeing, as it contributes to
enhancing organisational performance.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) estimates that annual health-related productivity losses
1
arising from poor employee health cost employers USD 530 billion globally. Moreover, millions
of occupational accidents and work-related illnesses are reported worldwide each year. 2

Preventative health programmes can help minimise these impacts. The International SOS

Foundation commissioned report, The Return on Prevention, reveals that for every dollar
invested in such programmes, organisations can expect a return of USD 2.53. Additionally,
fostering employee wellbeing strengthens talent acquisition and retention, with a remarkable

82 per cent of global risk professionals acknowledging its critical role.

Dr Nosa Aihie, Regional Medical Director, Offshore and Medical Services, Middle East,
at International SOS, comments “This year’s World Health Day theme is ‘My health, my
right’. Organisations can take this opportunity to support the health and wellbeing of their

employees by encouraging them to actively take charge of their health. While access to
health services, clean air, safe drinking water and nutritious food are crucial, so too is a safe
and healthy work culture and environment. Long working hours, sedentary work, limited

access to healthy food options can make it difficult for employees to maintain healthy habits.
Relatively simple changes at work can increase employee engagement and productivity,
reduce absenteeism, and ultimately contribute to a stronger and more successful

organisation."

International SOS offers five key strategies organisations can implement to enhance
employee health and wellbeing:

1. World Economic Forum (2023) | A healthy workforce is good for business. Here’s why.
2. International Labour Organization | The enormous burden of poor working conditions