BNSF News

Employees Learn about Risks at Health Fair

2007-12-13

Employees at BNSF’s System Maintenance Terminal (SMT) in Topeka, Kan., have a greater chance of remaining healthy throughout their careers if they learn about medical risk factors. Team members were given that opportunity at a Nov. 15 health fair.

"The health fair was a great success," said Pam Morse, administrative specialist, who helped organize the event. "More than 170 employees from three shifts participated."

Occupational health technicians from Stormont-Vail HealthCare in Topeka provided private, confidential tests for each participant. Employees were tested for cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, body mass index and skin cancer. Representatives from Berkshire Golf Club, YMCA, Rebound Physical Therapy, Operation Stop, BNSF Your HEALTH Matters and the Employee Assistance Program also visited with participants about their respective health benefits.

SMT employees who helped organize, coordinate and direct participants at the fair included Don Clark, machinist; Chris Feuerborn, acting contract billing specialist; Carl Ford, sheet metal workers local union chairman; John Grace, boilermaker; Mike Johnston, boilermaker; Nathan Rottler, second shift equipment supervisor; Lyle Savage, machinists local union chairman; and Terry Schnurr, electricians local union chairman.

The health fair was successful in providing employees access to health information and screenings, according to John Hilyer, WellCare, provider of BNSF’s Your HEALTH Matters program. "Employees who participated in the screenings were given confidential results at the time of the screening and will receive an individual report mailed to their home addresses," Hilyer said. "Employees responded with enthusiasm to these tests and the information on local health services."

He said the shop’s management, BNSF Medical and Environmental Health Department, the local safety team and others’ combined efforts made the event a success.

Rottler said the event was such a hit that health professionals ran out of some forms and free T-shirts. The turnout from the first and second shifts was excellent and many third-shift employees participated. There was no cost to employees for the health screenings, and employees enjoyed talking with representatives from other health organizations. Savage said everyone was in consensus that if the fair could potentially save one person’s life, it was worth the effort.

"It’s kind of like preventive maintenance for employees’ health," Rottler said. "Many of the tests would have to be done during first shift hours at a physician’s office without the health fair."

According to Hilyer, a follow-up event is being discussed for 2008 which would allow employees to compare results from one year to the next and provide new screening opportunities for those who could not participate in the recent fair.

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