Health Essentials
How safe is your workplace?
We all agree that “decent work must be safe” yet many of us have not shown enough commitment; governments, employers and employees all have duties, rights and responsibilities to ensure the highest priority is accorded to the principle of prevention.
Statistics show that where institutions invest in prevention measures over a period of time, a significant decrease in work-related accidents and occupational disease takes place.
This is an opportune time for all workplaces to start the process of ensuring their workplaces are safe and providing the appropriate information that all categories of staff can understand is the best start point.
Guy Ryder ILO Director General could not have put it better when he stated; “to move forward it is necessary to close the data gap, because knowledge is the key to prevention.”
Some areas that require prompt action in most workplaces include:
• Signaling that safety is a priority
o Right from the entrance to the workplace, appropriate notices should show the commitment to safety and health.
• Appropriate markings for walkways
o Vehicles and humans should not compete for the right of way especially in places with trucks etc. there should be clearly demarcated areas for pedestrians.
• Management of extreme temperatures
o In our setting, extreme heat is a major challenge. Workplace design should place emphasis on proper ventilation and in places that are already built, structural changes may be needed in addition to industrial fans and easy access to clean drinking water.
• Fire drills and evacuation plans
o If employees are not aware of what to do in the event of a fire for instance, then it needs to be tackled immediately.
o There should be a plan in place and all team members must know the plan.
• First Aid awareness
o What does one do in the event of an injury or other potentially fatal event occurs? Employees and even employers need to be equipped with basic first aid skills.
• Ergonomics
o Many of the aches and pains we experience are caused by poor posture at work and even beyond. This affects those seated in offices as well as those operating machinery or working on the floors. Correct techniques, taking appropriate breaks and balancing effect on the body should be taught and practiced.
• Use of PPEs
o Many employees have access to these and know its use but still fail to make use of them. Regular knowledge sharing and understanding will eventually bring a positive change.
• Managing Stress
o Stress is a window to many disease conditions and poor performance and it is important all workplaces address this.
o Time management and wellness programmes including exercises help to combat this.
• Avoiding clutter
o When your work area is messy, not only are you at risk of injury, you also feel harassed or stressed out and cause more errors.
• Other Interventions
o I believe workplaces should have happy hours for more interaction (may not need to be physical only), they should also take part in programmes like DUMP where unused or expired medicines are collected safely and the appropriate agency contacted to help dispose off. Harbouring such medications has often resulted in poisoning, addictions etc.
o Once again won’t it be great if your workplace actively encourages “ICE” – IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. Save at least two numbers on your cell phone beginning with ICE e.g. ICE Kojo 090…..when you are not in a position to help yourself, anyone who picks up your phone will be able to contact someone who knows a lot about you.
• Create a Green-Space
o Concrete has taken over most of our living spaces. It is very rewarding to have some plants indoors and outdoors as well as greenery such as a lawn. It doesn’t matter even if it’s a tiny strip. People will gladly take their lunch breaks in “nature” and return to work invigorated.
The list is endless but let us start with the basics and work our way to a safe and healthy work environment with PREVENTION at the fore.
Employers need to be aware that provision of personal protective equipment is not the all in all. PPEs should be seen as the last line of defense for the employee. Prior to using the PPEs the employer must ensure that machines, equipment, processes and the premises are free of risk to the health of all workers.
Employees also play a crucial role and it is expected that they will all actively cooperate with employers in the implementation of the preventive and protective measures.
It is important that workplaces have a visible occupational health and safety specialist or in the absence of one a safety officer who will coordinate all processes such as risk assessment and management, monitoring of working environment and practices that may affect worker’s health, advice on planning and organisation of work, designing and implementation of preventive programmes and even appropriate referrals to healthcare and rehabilitation.
If we made a conscious effort to calculate the money drained off that is related to lost working time, treatment of occupational injuries and diseases, interruptions in production, rehabilitation and compensation, it will leave no doubt in our minds that prevention is a PRIORITY!
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
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 – “Economic recession or pressure to maximize profits cannot justify cutting corners in workplace safety” – Guy Ryder. ILO Director General. (28th April 2015)
References:
• United Nations Website (un. org)
• International Labour Organization website
- A messy work area puts one at risk of injury
By Dr Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials
The impact of air quality on health
Air quality plays a significant role in our overall health and well-being. The air we breathe can contain various pollutants, including particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide, which can have adverse effects on our health.
In this article, we will explore the impact of air quality on our health and discuss ways to protect ourselves.
The health effects of poor air quality
Poor air quality can have serious health consequences, including:
Respiratory problems: Air pollutants can irritate the lungs, exacerbate conditions like asthma, and increase the risk of respiratory infections.
Cardiovascular disease: Exposure to air pollution has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular conditions.
Neurological effects: Some air pollutants, such as particulate matter and ozone, have been linked to neurological effects, including cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative diseases.
Who is most affected?
Certain groups are more susceptible to the adverse effects of poor air quality, including:
Children: Children’s lungs are still developing, and they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults, making them more vulnerable to air pollution.
Older adults: Older adults may be more susceptible to the adverse effects of air pollution due to age-related declines in lung function and other health conditions.
People with pre-existing health conditions: Individuals with pre-existing health conditions, such as asthma or cardiovascular disease, may be more susceptible to the adverse effects of air pollution.
Protecting yourself from poor air quality
There are several steps you can take to protect yourself from poor air quality, including:
Monitoring air quality: Check the air quality index in your area to plan your activities accordingly.
Reducing exposure: Avoid heavily trafficked areas, and limit your time outdoors when air quality is poor.
Using air purifiers: Consider using air purifiers in your home to reduce indoor air pollution.
Conclusion
Air quality plays a critical role in our overall health and well-being. By understanding the health effects of poor air quality of air, we can take steps to protect ourselves and reduce our exposure to pollutants.
By being aware of the air quality in our area and taking proactive measures, we can help to mitigate the adverse effects of air pollution and promote better health.
References
1. Environmental Protection Agency. (2022). Air Quality Index (AQI).
2. American Lung Association. (2022). State of the Air 2022.
3. World Health Organization. (2018). Air Pollution.
Health Essentials
Aging is magic
About half a decade ago, many of my friends hit that “magical age” and it’s extremely exciting. I have clients who have lived in excess of four scores and are still doing extremely well.
We are all aware of the risks that many people also face as they age; family, friends and neighbours may treat them badly and some are even branded as witches and wizards. How unfortunate!! A ripe old age should be celebrated daily.
For many of us years of cigarette smoking, excessive use of alcohol, too little exercise and too much food especially fats and sugars do physical damage that is often wrongly attributed to age.
I think we are always in a hurry to give age a bad name and hang it. There are many misconceptions about aging that tend to let many people “give up” as they celebrate several birthdays.
The arguments continue; humans can live for three-scores and ten as stated in the Bible, others say 120 years is the magic ceiling. Many people will resist spending a day on earth past their seventieth birthday till they are sixty-nine years old and realise that there is really no need to hurry.
With all apologies to Methuselah, Abraham and their age-mates but currently the longest well-documented life on record belongs to Jeanne Calment who died in France in August 1997 at the ripe age of 122 years (I stand to be corrected).
Are we all destined or programmed to live that long? I doubt that but we can do much more than we have been made to believe at ages even in excess of 70 years. I know many people will start challenging the 122 years I have put out but please hold your horses; my grand-aunt is alleged to have died after spending over 130 years on earth. Do I believe that? Well, that is another story.
1. “To be old is to be sick”
a. If you are like 99.9 per cent of us, you will have major issues with your health if you do not take the right steps to protect yourself but if you adopt the right lifestyle, you will rake in several years yet feel well.
b. You can age gracefully and remain independent for several years. Many elderly people especially women can easily perform activities of daily living and beyond with ease well past their 80th birthdays.
2. “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”
a. You must have heard this several times over. It has forced footballers who could salvage the country’s ego to retire prematurely, politicians have bade goodbye at the peak of their career and many adults even in churches have taken a backseat all because of the erroneous impression that they will not be able to learn the new trends in their trade.
Surely, if you spend all day watching television and avoid even reading and basic walking then you are setting the stage for major deterioration otherwise you have all it takes to continue serving the world in various categories.
I am not encouraging elderly people to stay indefinitely in positions at the detriment of young minds, far from that; I believe we often allow people to fall into the shadows too soon.
b. The belief among the young and the old that the elderly can’t sharpen or broaden their minds creates a disturbing cycle of mental inactivity and decay. The less people are challenged the less they can perform. The limits of learning and especially the pace of learning are more restricted in the aged than in the youth but research shows that older people can and do learn new things and they learn them well.
3. “Your horse is out of the barn”
a. We need to dispel the false and discouraging claim that old age is too late for efforts to reduce risk and promote health. Many adults feel that what they have lost is gone forever, but that is not exactly true. It is better to start healthy habits early and sustain them for a lifetime but for those of us who have strayed there is good news; we happen to be in the majority and nature is remarkably forgiving.
b. All too often when I ask patients with lifestyle diseases to start exercising I hear “I am too old to exercise.” Few things can be further from the truth than that, no matter how late you start exercising or modifying your life, you will be better off. The important point to note is to start slowly and avoid competing with people much younger than yourself. Regular and appropriate exercise for your age, gender and level of fitness is the way to go.
4. “Your secret to successful aging is to choose your parents wisely”
a. Some countries would probably be empty if this were possible. How easy it would be for people to say “everyone in my family dies of a heart attack by age 30 so I will not bother to work hard. Fortunately for us life does not work that way.
b. The role of genetics in aging is important but it has been exaggerated. We should be able to distinguish familial habits and experiences from genes. So if all members of a family enjoy eating large loaves of bread, several balls of kenkey, greasy fast foods and spend long hours in couches watching television, it has to be habits we have picked up as a family and has nothing to do with our genes.
c. We know that diet, exercise and even medications may delay or completely eliminate the emergence of disease. Genes play a key role in promoting disease, but they are certainly less than half the story.
I believe I have made it crystal clear that you have more control over what you can do or not do as you age than you ever thought. Beyond the exercises, healthy eating and avoiding excesses, it is important that you ensure active mental stimulation (solving puzzles, reading), keeping up relationships with friends and relatives (relationships where there is mutual respect can be priceless) , putting your finances in order and do not downplay spirituality.
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/St. Andrews Clinic
(www.healthessentialsgh.com)
*Dr. Essel is a Medical Doctor, holds an MBA and is ISSA certified in exercise therapy, fitness nutrition and corrective exercise.
Thought for the week – “Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.” –B Friedan
Reference:
1. “Successful Aging” by John W. Rowe, MD and Robert L. Kahn, Ph.D.
• Many people face risks as they age
• Talking to God has a way of calming nerves
