7 Steps to Green
Seven Steps to a Healthier, More Productive Workplace
Los Angeles, August 16, 2005— The American Education Campaign, Plants at Work, and the European sister effort, Healthy Plants in the Workplace have developed a 7 Step Plan to make any workplace greener and healthier.
According to both groups, plants in the workplace cut down health problems and stress. This is reflected in a significant reduction in absence due to illness and an improvement in the performance and productivity of staff across several studies. Both the European and American groups suggest that these results provide ample grounds for implementing a policy to make the workplace greener and healthier. "It is essential to have a clear plan, an internal system, to successfully introduce any new workplace policy. The following simple strategy provides a foundation upon which a healthier workplace can be sustained," reports M.J. Gilhooley, media relations contact for the American based Plants at Work.
1. Creating support
2. Establishing structures
3. Identifying needs
4. Developing a plan
5. Implementing the plan
6. Evaluating plants policy
7. Modifying and embedding the policy
1. Creating support.
Support from senior management and key staff is a prerequisite for introducing a new policy. Therefore
highlight the importance of plants in the workplace with the aid of appropriate examples, research
results and informative material (see: www.plantsatwork.org). Also involve the people responsible
for health policy in the plan for formulating a plants policy, for example representatives of the
human resource department, occupational health and safety representatives.
2. Establishing structures.
The next step is to establish an organizational structure for the development and implementation of a
plants policy. Check who needs to be involved in this, who is already interested and whether there
are any initiatives already underway in this area.
3. Identifying needs.
For this you need to draw up an inventory of the number of plants in the company and the plant types
involved. Pay special attention to workplaces, which are close to sources of harmful substances such
as printers and other machines. Also identify the locations of employees who display the symptoms of
illnesses associated with poor working environments.
4. Developing a plan.
In this phase you decide which activities you will carry out this year. Use the information from
Step 3 to identify priorities and then draw up a timetable for carrying out the activities and a
program setting out who will do what and when.
5. Implementing the plan.
You can do this through the company's existing channels of communication such as employee consultation,
Internet, the company newsletter, a staff meeting and the information provided to new employees. Pay
additional attention to the start of the activities, and ensure information about the activities and
any interim results is provided regularly.
6. Evaluating plants policy.
Establish how many healthy plants have been added, whether the plants are being properly cared for,
how many people attended the briefings and awareness of the scheme generally, and ask about staff
motivation. In the longer term the effects on absence due to illness can also be included, so that
you gain an insight into the costs and benefits of the project. Produce a report with recommendations
for further activities and suggestions for improvements.
7. Modifying and embedding the policy.
Health policy is really never 'finished.' Nor is a plant policy. A one-time activity, which involves
placing plants everywhere, is not enough. The results of the evaluation should be used to modify
and 'fine tune' the plan.
Plants at Work and Healthy Plants in the Workplace are education campaigns designed to educate professionals and the public about the vital benefits of plants in the workplace. Plants at Work is supported, in part by PLANET (Professional Landcare Network) and independent firms across the country. Healthy Plants in the Workplace is financed with the support of the European Union.
For supportive photos, research and interviews contact Pam Nelly or MJ Gilhooley at Plants at Work, 800-347-9014. www.plantsatwork.org