Vesturkot has become a health-promoting workplace.

More of the City of Hafnarfjörður's workplaces are well advanced in meeting benchmarks and implementing objectives.

Kindergarten Vesturkot has met the criteria of the Office of the Chief Medical Officer, the Health and Safety Executive, and VIRK regarding a health-promoting workplace and the factors considered to have the greatest impact on the health and well-being of staff in the workplace. The eight criteria relate to environment, management practices, working practices, wellbeing, physical activity and outdoor environments, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, the work environment, and a healthy diet.  Vesturkot has analysed these criteria, set health objectives (a health policy) and drawn up a timed action plan aimed at achieving the defined objectives. Actions have been initiated, the health policy will be reviewed and updated annually, and Vesturkot has thereby become a health-promoting workplace. More workplaces within the City of Hafnarfjörður are well advanced in implementing enhanced health promotion.

Interval training, walks and inter-departmental skipping competitions are among the light-hearted, health-promoting ideas being worked on at Vesturkot.

A general positivity and a sense of fun characterise the implementation work.

In 2022, the Municipality of Hafnarfjörður decided to become a health-promoting workplace. A health promotion project manager was appointed in the autumn of 2022, and since then the municipality has put increased effort and great ambition into ensuring that all of its workplaces become health-promoting. Many workplaces have already begun the implementation process, but Vesturkot is the first workplace in the City of Hafnarfjörður to be formally awarded the title of a health-promoting workplace. The Office of the Chief Medical Officer offers several health-promoting pathways for workplaces, depending on the activities and nature of the workplaces in question. Thus, for example, the council's schools can choose whether to become healthy workplaces, healthy nurseries or healthy primary schools. The projects are similar in nature, but the emphasis on staff and their well-being is characteristic of the 'Health Promoting Workplace' project. The Smáralundur and Hamravellir nurseries have been health-promoting nurseries for many years and are now considering becoming health-promoting workplaces, thereby placing an even greater emphasis on staff well-being.

A healthy workplace is a joint project between employers, staff and the community. Through the project, workplaces seek ways to improve work organisation and the work environment, encourage active participation and promote the development and well-being of the individual.

A huge congratulations to the staff at Vesturkot!