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Howard County becomes first in nation to ban minors from tanning beds – Board of Health votes to approve regulations

On Tuesday, November 10, 2009, the County Board of Health voted to approve proposed regulations to ban individuals under the age of 18 from using indoor tanning beds. The vote came after a large public hearing held at the health department. Howard County becomes the first jurisdiction in the country to provide comprehensive protection for children against the dangers of indoor tanning.

Click here to download a copy of the press release.

Click here to download a copy of the American Academy of Dematology release.

Health Department certifies 28 Howard County businesses as Healthy Workplaces

The first annual Healthy Workplaces Awards Ceremony was held at Linden Hall on Tuesday, November 3, 2009. At this ceremony, the Health Department certified 28 Howard County businesses as Healthy Workplaces. In addition, two businesses were recognized with Innovation Awards for their exemplary efforts to improve employee health.

The Healthy Workplaces program, a part of the County’s overall Healthy Howard Initiative, certifies county businesses that meet specific criteria in six main areas of worksite wellness. The 2009 Certified Healthy Workplaces represent a wide range of industries and business models - from a local auto mechanic shop to a national telecommunications firm. The Health Department partnered with the Horizon Foundation and the Howard County Chamber of Commerce for this important program.

American adults spend almost half of their waking hours at work. “Investing in worksite wellness is good for employees and even better for employers’ bottom lines” explains Health Officer Dr. Peter L. Beilenson. These programs improve employee health and morale; increase productivity; and decrease health care costs, absenteeism, position turnover and workers’ compensation claims.

For more information, including the listing of 2009 Certified Workplaces and the Innovation Award Winners, click on the “Healthy Howard Initiative” tab to the left and then select “Healthy Workplaces”.

County-Wide Health Forum Report

Click here to read the report from the December 2008 County-Wide Health Forum, held at request of the Obama Transition team.

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