Programs suited to needs show fitness success

Amtrol Inc., a world leader in the design and operation of mechanical systems used to control hydronic heating and store potable water, employs 1,500 people in the United States and Portugal – and aims to keep them healthy.
It does this by offering a variety of workshops, programs and seminars catering to employee health needs, said Andrea Terilli, director of human resources. One popular program at the West Warwick location of the company is a weight-loss plan dubbed Ounces Count.
“Some employees who have participated in it each time have lost totals of 40-plus pounds,” Tirelli said.
And for most, losing weight isn’t a one-and-done deal, she said. Eighty percent of returning participants have not gained back the weight they lost the previous year.
The company also offers healthy food options at its cafeteria and in vending machines, a smoking-cessation program, health-risk assessments, on-site doctor visits and a health services department staffed by a registered nurse.
Amtrol reaches workers with various types of messaging, including announcements of wellness events via bulletin boards, emails, posters and meetings. When choosing health options, a wellness committee looks at employee health-risk assessments and medication usage.
“We are always looking for new ways to encourage participation,” Tirelli said. •