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.gpgb.org). Also involve the people

responsible for health policy in the plan for formulating a plant policy, for

example representatives of the human resource department, occupational

health and safety representatives.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 detailing who will

do what and when.

• Implementing the plan

You can do this through the companyʼs 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 are provided regularly.

• Evaluating plants policy

Establish how many healthy plants have been added, whether the plants

are being properly cared for, how many people attended the briefi ngs 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 benefi ts of the project. Produce

a report with recommendations for further activities and suggestions for

improvements.

• Modifying and embedding the policy

Health policy is really never ʻfi nished.ʼ 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 ʻfine tuneʼ the plan.