Getting Started - Quick Start

• Convincing Your Employer

Some workplaces have long standing and established physical activity programs for their employees. If your employer understands the benefits of physical activity and supports employees in improving their health through regular physical activity, it is likely you are ready to go with Stairway to Health as a simple add-on to your existing program.

• PAR-Q (Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire)

There are 10 essential steps to a successful Stairway to Health Program:

1. Measure
2. Identify Barriers
3. Address Barriers
4. Set Objectives
5. Design Program
6. Register
7. Promote
8. Encourage
9. Evaluate
10. Communicate

1. Measure
   Measure current use of your stairs by observation, measurement and/or questionnaire.
   
2. Examine Barriers
   Try to understand the current barriers to stairway use in your workplace. Take a walk through of the stairways; have conversations with co-workers, and possibly hand out a questionnaire at the elevators. Barriers may include location, safety, attractiveness, attitudes, etc.
   
3. Address Barriers
   With the help of co-workers, or your program committee if already established, try to address each of these barriers through simple low cost strategies. For example, an unattractive stairway doesn't have to have a full renovation as a first step. A good cleaning by maintenance staff and posting of some attractive posters (in accordance with fire codes) will create a fresh new look as a first step. Safety can be addressed through events that ensure co-workers are in the stairway together rather than alone. And attractive signage can help deal with stairways located in inaccessible back corners of buildings.(Poster1) (Poster2)
   
4. Set objectives
   Set objectives for the program and be realistic. Remember, successful programs generally result in no more than a 15% increase in stair use. However a 15 % increase can result in significant health benefits for your workplace.
   
5. Program Design
   Design your program based on the barriers to be addressed and the objectives that have been set. Remember that point of decision prompts have been proven to be the most effective intervention in changing stair use behaviour (Poster1,Poster2). Will your program be on-going throughout the year, a campaign conducted over several months, or a special event taking place over a number of weeks?
   
6. Register
   Register your program with Stairway to Health. Registering allows you to track, monitor and measure self-reported stairway use among your employees. Use this information to promote the program, profile successes, and measure progress.
   
7. Promote
   Promote your program to all employees. There are a variety of Stairway to Health Tools available to help create posters and other promotional resources that will help you promote your program. Consider a kick-off event to announce the program. Have the company owner or President meet and greet with you at the elevators one morning etc.
   
8. Encourage
   Support and encourage your employees through ongoing promotion, rewards, contests and incentives.
   
9. Evaluate
   Measure and evaluate the results of your Stairway to Health Program.
   
10. Communicate
    Share your results with your employer, employees, and to other workplaces via in house communication opportunities and the Stairway to Health Website.
    

Developed in partnership by:


Canadian Council for Health
and Active Living at Work