Health Essentials
‘Being safe and healthy is a must at work’
A safe and healthy working environment is a fundamental principle and a right at work. It is the responsibility of employers to provide a safe working environment that is free from hazards, and it is the right of employees to work in a safe environment.
Importance of a Safe and Healthy Working Environment:
Physical Well-being: A safe and healthy working environment is essential for the physical well-being of employees. Hazards such as unsafe equipment, hazardous materials, and poor air quality can cause injuries and illnesses. A safe working environment can reduce the risk of accidents and illnesses and promote overall physical well-being.
Mental Health: A safe and healthy working environment can also have a positive impact on employees’ mental health. When employees feel safe and secure in their work environment, it can reduce stress and anxiety. A healthy working environment can also improve morale and job satisfaction, leading to increased productivity.
Legal Obligations: Employers have a legal obligation to provide a safe working environment for their employees. Failure to do so can result in legal action, fines, and damage to the company’s reputation. Employers who prioritize workplace safety are not only fulfilling their legal obligations but are also demonstrating their commitment to their employees’ well-being.
Measures to Achieve a Safe and Healthy Working Environment:
Risk Assessment: Employers should conduct regular risk assessments to identify potential hazards in the workplace. This can include hazards such as unsafe equipment, hazardous materials, and poor air quality. Once hazards are identified, steps should be taken to control or eliminate them. This can include implementing engineering controls, such as installing barriers or ventilation systems, or administrative controls, such as implementing safety procedures or limiting access to hazardous areas.
Training and Education: Employers should provide training and education to their employees on how to identify and mitigate hazards in the workplace. This can include training on the use of personal protective equipment, handling hazardous materials, and responding to emergencies. Regular training sessions should be conducted to reinforce safety procedures and keep employees up to date with the latest safety protocols.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Employers should provide appropriate PPE to employees to protect them from hazards in the workplace. PPE such as helmets, safety glasses, gloves, and respirators can help protect employees from injuries and illnesses. Employers should ensure that PPE is in good condition and is being used correctly.
Health and Wellness Programmes: Employers can promote a healthy work environment by implementing health and wellness programs. This can include programs that encourage employees to exercise, eat healthy, and manage stress. By promoting a healthy lifestyle, employers can improve employee morale, reduce absenteeism, and increase productivity.
Reporting and Investigating Incidents: Employers should encourage employees to report any incidents, accidents, or near misses in the workplace. Employers should investigate incidents to determine the cause and take steps to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. By creating a culture of reporting, employers can identify hazards and improve workplace safety.
Regular Maintenance: Regular maintenance of equipment and machinery can help prevent accidents in the workplace. Employers should ensure that equipment is inspected regularly and repaired or replaced as needed. By maintaining equipment, employers can reduce the risk of accidents and injuries.
In conclusion, a safe and healthy working environment is a fundamental principle and a right at work. Employers have a responsibility to provide a safe working environment, and employees have a right to work in a safe environment. By implementing measures such as risk assessment, training and education, personal protective equipment, health and wellness programs, reporting and investigating incidents, and regular maintenance, employers can create a safe and healthy working environment. By prioritizing workplace safety, employers can improve employee morale.
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND
REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood
pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials Ltd./Mobissel
(dressel@healthessentialsgh. com)
*Dr. Essel is a medical doctor, holds an MBA and is ISSA certified in exercise therapy, fitness
nutrition and corrective exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling The
Essentials of Health & Wealth.’
Thought for the week : “The rains have a message for us; step up water and food hygiene and
make hand washing with soap and water a routine. Together, let us prevent cholera and other
diseases associated with poor personal hygiene.”
By Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
A good relationship with your boss is critical for job success and career development. Supervisors have a great influence on your stress level, your team and company culture, and ultimately, whether you succeed or fail in a role.
They are also your best resource for support, problem-solving, and personal development. Building a strong relationship with them can be transformative for your work experience and professional growth, but navigating this connection can be complex.
Here are some key values and characteristics that will help you along the way.
- Be authentic
It is important to be yourself when building any new relationship. Do not be over-the-top trying to impress or kiss up to a manager. Be authentic and try to build a genuine connection with them instead. This will be incredibly helpful when it comes to dealing with personal issues, having difficult conversations, and building trust.
- Be empathetic and respectful
Bosses are human beings with their own professional pressures and personal lives, so it is important to maintain empathy toward them. Strive to get to know them on a personal level; you do not need to be best friends, but knowing the basics, like their family and hobbies, can be meaningful.
Also, help your supervisor look good. Every leader wants a high-performing and successful team. By developing trust, understanding, and excellent communication, you can help your boss achieve their goals.
- Build trust and add value
Showing initiative will win you big points with almost any boss. Whether setting up regular one-on-ones, volunteering for new projects, or offering help, the benefits of this dedication are twofold.
Proactivity makes leaders feel supported-like you are looking out for them. It also provides opportunities for your individual growth.
Whenever possible, add value beyond the limitations of your job description. Whether you have a special interest or extra capacity, find ways to support your team and relieve pressure. – Source:careers.vikingservice.com
..To be continued
This week I bumped into Deborah, one of my avid readers and I promised her I will be writing this weekend. So Deborah, this is for your reading pleasure and to pick some golden nuggets for the future.
The quest to find the best way to make one’s golden years, happy, exciting, healthy and a time most people look forward to continues unabated. One factor that keeps popping up is the need to grow friendships with people more than 20 years younger than yourself.
Do not take this for granted. It is a form of “social security” since these close friends who are much younger than you will step in to support you in more ways than you can ever imagine.
Some conditions may make life challenging for older adults but knowing these Geriatric Giants helps us to take the necessary steps to reduce our risk.
“Geriatric Giants” refers to a group of chronic health conditions that are common in the elderly, typically 65-year-olds and older.
These conditions quite often co-occur and can impact on the independence, dignity and overall wellbeing and quality of life of an elderly person.
These Geriatric Giants include:
- Impaired Intellect/ Memory (e.g. Dementia)
- one of the major battles we need to deal with is challenges with memory
- Exercise, adopt the Mind Diet, build a great social network and enjoy time outdoors
- Keep reading and solving puzzles for as long as possible
- Instability – leading to much feared falls
- A good reason to indulge in Balance Training and Core Strengthening exercises from today
- Ensure your home is safe; avoid clutter such as cables crisscrossing floors, toys etc. These are all trip hazards and should be avoided
- Many healthy, happy and fun-loving older adults have died soon after a fall with its attendant complications.
- Do whatever it takes to avoid falling
- Immobility (opening the doors to pressure sores, joint stiffness)
- Even when you are unable to move about on your own it is important to get support to change positions as often as possible or get an appropriate mattress or bed that prevents prolonged pressure over any single point.
- Make sure you passively or actively move joints daily.
- Incontinence (urine, faeces or both)
- This is one of the reasons older adults prefer to stay at home and avoid going out to meet friends etc.
- Iatrogenic Disorders – adverse effect of medication
- Quite often most older adults are on several medications and some side effects such as drowsiness may seem to cause more unhappiness and may even lead to falls.
- Inappetite – this may result in poor nutrition
- This may also be linked to loss of teeth thus making chewing very difficult or limited.
- The loss of smell and taste may also reduce the amount of food one may willingly eat.
The power to reduce the impact of the Geriatric Giants starts now and should be a lifetime commitment. It is never too early to start making the appropriate lifestyle modifications, nor is it too late to reduce the impact of the giants on one’s life.
Other conditions that significantly impact on the lives especially of the elderly are:
- Sleep Disorders
- Good sleep has the power to give us energy, improve our thought pattern and even helps us to make good choices.
- Good sleep sets the tone for a healthy life
- Constipation
- This is a challenge that confronts quite a number of older adults.
- Movement, fibre and lots of water go a long way to reduce the stress that frequent constipation generates.
- Fraility
- Muscle loss is real and as we age, we lose a significant percentage of our muscle plus our bones also become brittle.
- Make sure strength training is part of your exercise schedule
- Polypharmacy
- Another headache that needs to be confronted head-on
- Everyone especially older adults need a good primary care physician or a general practitioner who can coordinate all medicines from the different Specialists who may be attending to an elderly person. This ensures that unnecessary medicines are dropped
The goal of care at all times is to optimise the quality of life. As family, professional caregivers and friends we should always show respect so that the dignity of the elderly is preserved at all times. For those of us who are not yet in the age group with such challenges, we need to start the conversation about the type of care we will prefer and take steps to stay healthy and independent for as long as possible. The goal should be a long Healthspan and not just a long Lifespan.
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials Ltd (HE&W Group)
(dressel@healthessentialsgh.com)
*Dr. Essel is a Medical Doctor with a keen interest in Lifestyle Medicine, He holds an MBA and is an ISSA Specialist in Exercise Therapy, Fitness Nutrition and Corrective Exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling The Essentials of Health & Wealth.’
Thought for the week – “There is no magic formula to being happy but making a conscious effort to be happy goes a long way.” – Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
By Dr. Kojo Cobba Esse
