HL: Why is the health and safety of your employees important to you? :
RMOA: Because it creates a positive work environment that leads to healthy choices at work and at home.

HL: What does your workplace health and safety program look like? Do you offer both components to employees?:
RMOA: The Wellness (health) program is voluntary and participation in the activities can be executed both as an individual as well as in a group. The safety component is executed in all-staff meetings and small group meetings.

HL: How will you/do you know your program is successful?:
RMOA: We met our first year goals of: a.) having 50% or better enroll in the program; b.) having 50% or better of the enrollees participate in activities.

HL: What obstacles did you have to overcome to get your program started? How did you overcome them?:
RMOA: Funding had to be approved by the owners. We made two presentations. The first presentation was an overview of the proposed program, with the goal of getting a consensus that they were interested in an employee wellness program. The second meeting was a presentation by our eventual Health Links consultant Rebecca Weitzel.

HL: Does your health and safety program help give back to your community?:

RMOA: It does because several of the activities that the employees could participate in were part of our outreach program for Rocky Mountain Orthopaedic Associates. One of the most popular events was helping out at the Special Olympics Soccer Venue.

HL: What tip/advice would you give to a business that is considering starting a workplace health and safety program?:
RMOA: Have a committed wellness committee. This is an area that I need to improve in.