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
The conventional wisdom has always been that we should all strive to keep our blood pressure low. Even though this is true, having really low blood pressure can be dangerous, as it can impair your body’s ability to absorb oxygen, resulting in damage to the heart and brain.
Low blood pressure is when your blood pressure reading is lower than 90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) for the top number (systolic) or 60 mm Hg for the bottom number (diastolic).
Low blood pressure (also known as hypotension) can occur in anyone, though it may be more common depending on your age or other risk factors: genetic makeup, taking certain medications, and having certain diseases (diabetes, heart conditions).
The cause of low blood pressure isn’t always clear. However, it may be associated with the following:
- pregnancy
- hormonal problems
- some over-the-counter and prescription medications
- heart failure
- abnormal heart rhythms
- widening or dilation of the blood vessels
- heatstroke
- liver disease
- loss of blood from bleeding
- low or high body temperature
- a severe blood infection
- severe dehydration from vomiting, diarrhea, burns or fever
- a reaction to medication or alcohol
A sudden drop in blood pressure robs the brain of adequate blood supply. This can lead to dizziness or lightheadedness. Other symptoms include fainting, blurred vision, nausea, fatigue, lack of concentration, and in extreme conditions shock.
If you experience any of the above symptoms, seek emergency medical attention as it is important to determine the cause of low blood pressure so appropriate treatment can be given.
Some people are known to take alcohol in an attempt to increase their blood pressure but that is a path I will not recommend. Others opt for caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea. Caffeine can increase blood pressure due to peripheral pooling of blood and may cause complications.
Dr Kojo Essel often recommends that one engages in exercise, which is your best “weapon to normalise blood pressure.”
Quite often when one has low blood pressure, standing still for long periods of time can cause a further drop. In such people, Dr Essel highly recommends taking several steps even if standing in one place to help maintain blood pressure at a safe level.
Other ways of managing low blood pressure are:
- adding a little salt to food (do this with caution to avoid excesses and downsides of increased salt intake)
- increase water (other fluids) intake to increase blood volume
- may need to wear compression stockings in extreme situations
- some may require medication
- pay attention to body positions; do not move quickly from sitting to standing position for instance
- eat small portions of food at a time
- exercise should be a combination of strength training and cardiovascular exercise that increases heart rate
As always: laugh often, ensure hygiene, walk and pray every day, and remember it’s a priceless gift to know your numbers (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI).
Source:
Maureen Masopeh, Content Creator (Health Essentials Ltd)
References:
- Dr Kojo Cobba Essel; Unravelling the Essentials of Health and Wealth
- Mayoclinic; Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension)
- WebMD
By Dr Kojo Cobba Essel
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IF you truly love yourself, you had better read this piece while standing!
The other “inactivity” that rivals sitting for long periods when it comes to poor health and untimely death is LONLINESS! Sitting and Loneliness are the new Smoking.
It is often common to hear a parent tell a child, “Sit quietly and watch television and I will make a quick dash to town.” Well, this harmless and well-meaning statement is now being vilified. That parent could have said “smoke a few sticks of cigarettes while I dash off to town.” Yes “sitting is the “new” smoking.”
Scientists: they keep coming up with many weird findings and unfortunately, we realise after much ado that they may be right. People with sitting jobs have twice the rate of cardiovascular (heart & blood vessel) diseases as those with standing jobs – the bankers are cringing in their seats I bet.
It appears that compared to sitting,
• Sitting continuously brings similar challenges that smoking poses a gossip team. After an hour of sitting, if you walk for a minute or two.
Standing is hard work. Imagine that you need to engage many muscles to stand upright, and this burns energy. Sitting on the other hand is extremely relaxing.
When we sit, the “physiology of inactivity” kicks in and when we think we are relaxing in a chair made from heaven, our body instead rewards us with many bad things; enzymes that break down fat may drop by about 90 per cent calorie burning drops to frightening low levels and soon good cholesterol that protects us also drops. If you sit long enough even your insulin effectiveness drops and you will be courting diabetes in the long run.
I sincerely believe in getting a workout during the day, but you should not think that it gives you a license to sit at your desk for hours on end. We should ensure that we get up from our desk to walk briefly or even stretch. I am not giving you an excuse for loitering around your office or forming ings. When you have a meeting with a handful of people you could lace your boots and start walking while you talk. Who knows being out of a box (office etc) could help you think “out of the box” or even think like “there is no box”. The best aspect of such a meeting is people are more attentive since they are unable to fidget with their smart phones and other gadgets.
All lectures and classes (children are really suffering in school these days) should have a “Heart Preserving” five-minute break after every hour. Spend that time walking and stretching.
All long movies should have commercial breaks that should be used to at least stand
Whenever in doubt, at least stand for a while.
Well some people are trying innovative ways of even having small treadmills at their desk that keeps them moving, others are adopting a new chair design that essentially makes you stand at your desk, a few others sit on exercise balls that forces them to adjust their positions all the time but for the rest of us simply taking breaks and using every opportunity to move is just what the doctor prescribed.
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERY DAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials/Medics Clinic
(www.healthessentialsgh.com)
Dr. Essel is a medical doctor with a keen interest in Lifestyle Medicine, He 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 – For good heart health; exercise often, eat healthy, do not smoke, minimise alcohol and sit less
By Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
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