A NEW learning programme is to be launched to promote a healthier environment in Hyndburn workplaces.

The programme based at the Globe Centre is to raise awareness of health issues and encourage organisations of all sizes to commit to investment and promotion of a healthier workforce.

The role of the environmental health department of Hyndburn Borough Council and the input of the health and safety executive will also be discussed and a major part of this will be to sign up businesses to the Health Actioneer initiative which was initially developed in this area.

The initiative is designed on three levels so that small or large employers can be involved and it also recognises that some organisations are already actively promoting the health of their workforce.

Employers sign up for bronze, silver or gold levels of achievement depending on the amount of commitment they can put in.

At bronze level the organisation would commit to meeting the relevant legal obligations for health and safety at work. At silver it takes formal action to assess staff health needs and provide all employees with the opportunities to have a health check.

Those who commit to the gold level have to demonstrate activities that promote health in each of a number of areas and operate an effective two-way communication system across the organisation.

Once an employer commits to a level a certificate will be presented to the business and during a two year period the organisation will have to provide written evidence of its efforts. Certain organisations will also be chosen at random to be visited by assessors, who will monitor their progress.

Jacqui Waters, the health actioneer responsible for signing up as many organisations as possible in the area, will also visit and help interested employers who would like to enter the scheme or develop health initiatives already in place.

She said: "If, together we success in creating the conditions for improvements in health and well being, not only will we be able to live our lives more fully but we will be better equipped to contribute to the growing prosperity of the North West.

"Health Actioneers will become part of a regional solution to the problems we face of poor health standards and wide health inequalities."

The learning programme will be held on October 18. Information on the free seminar is available by calling 01254 600638.