Purdue pushes green & healthy programs

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue Technical Assistance program is launching two new initiatives.

The group is hoping the new programs will help reduce waste and cut down on the cost of healthcare for Indiana businesses.

TAP Director Dave McKinnis said Indiana businesses must cut costs and reduce waste to keep companies strong. That is one of the reasons the Purdue Technical Assistance program is launching the Green Work Force and Healthy Work Force initiatives.

"It's important because we want our businesses in Indiana to be competitive," he said. "Both Healthy Work Force, which has a direct impact on costs, and Green Initiatives which have a direct impact on our environment, and many costs that relate to that are very important to long-term sustainability of manufacturers and other sectors in Indiana."

 As a part of both initiatives, TAP provides training to employees to help cut down on waste. In the Healthy Work Force program, employees attend training seminars that teach things like when to go to the Emergency Room, or when only a regular doctor visit is necessary.

McKinnis said the initiative is "a way of helping employees and employers work together to control the health care costs which are a significant part of costs for every employers."

The Green Work Force initiative helps teach employees how to reduce,recycle, and reuse.

"If they use a lot of water, how to reduce water, if they use a lot of energy, how to reduce energy, if it's an office operation with lots of paper, how to reduce the amount of paper," he said.

McKinnis also said the Green Work Force program can help companies move toward the goal of eliminating waste from going to the landfill.

To find out more about either the Healthy Work Force or Green Work Force initiatives go to http://www.tap.purdue.edu .