Caring for personal and organizational well-being is perhaps more prominent today than ever before. Many employers are undoubtedly considering how to best invest in staff well-being and what preventive measures could yield the most concrete benefits. We explored these same questions at Olkiluoto while planning our 2025 initiatives, seeking ways to spark our employees' genuine interest in their own health.

Our starting point regarding sick leave was already at a good level; for example, our pension insurance (TyEL) category is 1. This indicates an extremely low risk of disability. Last year, our sickness absence rate was 2.5%, which is low by national standards.

However, we recognize that age structures and lifestyle factors can still expose our personnel to lifestyle diseases. These "national afflictions", such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and musculoskeletal disorders, cause significant annual costs for both employers and society.

In the nuclear industry, the philosophy is to act preventively rather than repair damage after the fact. We apply this same logic to the health of our staff: prevention is always easier and more cost-effective than treating established problems.

In recent years, Finland has produced several technological innovations that support this preventive work. Olkiluoto employs a large number of engineers and technical professionals whose daily lives are driven by data and verifiable facts. Knowing them, fresh technology-based solutions are exactly what pique their interest. But how could we align this with our health promotion challenge: awakening personal motivation?

As if by chance, a news story emerged about a fresh Finnish success story: the eHealth Station™ developed by MedicubeX, which allows for the quick and effortless measurement of work disability risks directly at the workplace. The idea took flight immediately. In collaboration with MedicubeX and our occupational healthcare partner Terveystalo, the project moved rapidly to implementation.

The world’s first eHealth Station™ in occupational healthcare use was installed in Eurajoki for the personnel of the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant in early September 2025.

Results and Future Outlook

Now, after a few months of use, I can say the interest has been immense. During the first weeks, there were over 750 users, and the start of the new year brought another clear peak in usage. The health measurement takes about five minutes. Afterward, each user receives a printout of their results and a risk analysis, along with a recommendation to either continue self-monitoring using the eHealth Station™ or seek professional guidance.

The majority of users are currently instructed to maintain self-monitoring protocols.

While the effects of lifestyle changes are visible over a longer period, we want to develop the cooperation between Terveystalo and MedicubeX to gain deeper insights into our staff's well-being. Currently, the results of the measurements do not transfer automatically to occupational health as we wanted to test the system first and develop it based on employee feedback. A recent survey showed that employees actually hope for the option to transfer results directly to occupational health, which would lower the threshold for seeking professional support for lifestyle changes.

Moving forward, I see these types of digital innovations becoming a standard part of health check-ups, streamlining the process for occupational health nurses and improving long-term monitoring. This spring, we have already introduced the eHealth Station™ as a voluntary part of health checks.

From an employer’s perspective, supporting staff health is an investment in productivity and work ability. Preventing lifestyle diseases and improving energy levels enhances stamina and job satisfaction. For us, maintaining work ability is a clear competitive advantage that attracts top talent and fosters the commitment of our current employees.

Written by Jaana Isotalo

Jaana is a member of the TVO Executive Management Group. Her responsibilities include HR, Training, Communications, Stakeholder Relations, and the development of Corporate Culture.