Incat worker’s unexpected death inspires push for free health tests in workplace
‘He had a heart attack out of the blue’: A Tasmanian workplace has been spurred into action to help their workers monitor their health after the unexpected death of a colleague. Here’s why.
Tasmania
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When much-loved Incat worker Adam Butterworth died after an unexpected heart attack this year, colleague Greg Brown made it his mission to get a machine so everyone could test their heart health.
Incat heeded his advice and installed a health station at the Hobart shipbuilder which has already tested 200 employees in two weeks.
Mr Brown, 49, is pleased the Shane Warne Heart Test done using the heart station is proving so popular and said three workers with high blood pressure had been taken to hospital after the test.
“Adam had a heart attack out of the blue, he was fit and healthy, a lot fitter than I am,” he said.
“We will never forget him. He was so well liked, the party in the room, he could never not make you laugh.
“It hurt a lot of people (when he died).”
A former aluminium fabricator and welder who injured his shoulder at work and is now a safety adviser, Mr Brown said his father had his first heart attack at 42.
He said he gave up cigarettes when he was 19 or 20 and since the test showed his heart age at 54, which he was “pretty happy about”, he intended to lose weight, had an exercise plan and would try to avoid comfort eating.
The test checks blood pressure, heart rate, BMI and the percentage of body fat.
Incat CEO, Stephen Casey said since having the health station several employees had sought further medical checks after receiving their results which may prevent more serious health problems.
“We’re not just about building ships, we want to build a healthy workforce too,” he said.
“Heart disease is a leading cause of sudden deaths in Australia, and early detection is crucial.
“By providing free access to the test, we’re empowering our employees to take charge of their health and identify issues early on, potentially saving lives.
“We believe that a healthy workforce is a productive workforce and the health station’s comprehensive checks offer valuable insights that can help our workforce maintain their health and wellbeing.”
The health station will be at Incat for two months before going to the Boyer paper mill.
A cricket and Shane Warne devotee Mr Brown urged other workplaces to consider having the health station.
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