Health Essentials
How safe is your workplace?
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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
I have over the past two decades looked beyond mainstream medicine to assess other options that lead to holistic health, and I must say it’s been exciting and revealing but it’s not an easy path.
As I matured and my knowledge expanded, I have changed my opinion on some aspects of wellness and many findings have been humbling. We all continue to learn each day.
I will share some of the life-changing skills that we take for granted. In our quest for wellness there appears to be more questions than answers, but moderation still remains key in our daily lives.
The power of prayer, praise and worship of God cannot be taken out of the equation.
Ready. Set. Let us do this together.
- Strength training is a must for ALL of us
- Yes, we all need to dig into the various aspects of exercise; strength training, cardiovascular training, stretches or flexibility training and balance training. If you asked me about a decade ago to pick the king of all exercises, I would naively have answered cardiovascular such as walking, cycling etc. but I am certain now that strength training trumps all and we need to incorporate at least a bit of that in our exercise programme.
- Take a short walk after each meal
- Many of us (your truly included) after dinner barely get to wash our hands before the miracle of the Lotus Eaters sends us to dreamland. Our fingers will be signaling to rats and cockroaches to come out and party.
- Walking a few minutes after eating may hold the key to helping control our blood sugar levels and reduce the spikes in insulin that come with a myriad of issues. At the very least the short walks after eating will add up to increase the energy you expend daily.
- Eating your vegetables and proteins before your carbohydrates may be helpful
- Well, how true may this be? I suggest it is worth trying. I am not saying clear your plate of all protein before you even take a spoonful of carbohydrate. The fibre will slow the absorption of the sugar for hours and even better, you may feel full after the vegetables and protein and not be able to gobble down the mounds of carbohydrates you had planned to dismantle.
- Eat slowly but do not get your boss angry
- Eating slowly does not mean spending hours at lunch and courting the displeasure of your superiors. It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to realise you are full so dear friend, take your time to chew and enjoy your food. A meal “downed” in less than 20 minutes may cause you to virtually suffocate when you top up with water. This is a message to myself and all those who like me eat so quickly that Usain Bolt will envy our speed.
- Eat from small, colourful plates
- Small colourful plates make an impression on our brains. Since the little food appears loaded on a small plate our brains tend to “believe” it’s a lot of food and we feel full for a strange reason. Put the same amount in a large plate and you are likely to be asking for second servings.
- By all means make friends
- The power of social wellness and its role in longevity and an enviable health span is no longer in doubt. By all means make a few good friends and enjoy life! Thank me later.
- Sleep!
- Yes, I do agree there are at least seven forms of rest, and they are all equally important BUT start off with sleep and we will gradually rope in all others.
- Keep your eyes on your numbers
- I have written and spoken about the miracle of knowing our numbers and keeping them in check; blood pressure, blood sugar, lipids and BMI. Today I suggest you look at your heart rate closely. A low heart rate may be an indicator for staying here on planet earth for a long time. Also keeping glycated haemoglobin (long term blood sugar) low is another feather in the cap of longevity.
- Appropriate supplementation
- The golden rule is to get all your nutrients from your food but for many of us that may not be possible hence the need to supplement ( note that supplement overdose does exist)
- It is ideal to discuss supplementation with your healthcare professional and your discussion should look at probiotics, magnesium glycinate, Vit D3 + K2, a good multivitamin and in some instances creatine or whey Protein. I am in no way suggesting you take all these, each individual is unique and that is why it is crucial to discuss your options with a professional.
- Make a conscious effort to be HAPPY
- Happiness affects our entire being in positive ways; smile, say a kind word to someone, be grateful, surround yourself with people who make you happy and not ones who sap your energy, volunteer to support people and by all means get a hobby eg gardening, playing a game etc and the best get news yet; you don’t even have to be good at your hobby to benefit.
We are not waiting for a magical or ideal day to start working on our Health and Wellness, we start today bearing in mind that “the most efficient way to reach our realistic health and wellness goals is to make small healthy choices daily.
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/ Medics Clinic
(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 – “WHERE YOU LIVE SHOULD NOT DETERMINE IF YOU LIVE.”- WHO
Very often we leave the doctor’s office only to remember that we left out a major complaint. Some patients immediately rush back to the consulting room totally oblivious of the privacy that the next patient is entitled to.
They expect that as they walk in, the doctor should ignore the seated or positioned patient and attend to them. That is totally outrageous. Others go home and continue to live with the condition hoping to be healed miraculously.
Most of us will be extremely lucky to spend 15 minutes with our doctor and this time is often much shorter in countries/communities where the doctor-patient ratio is so low that at best it can be described as criminal.
We are now in the second half of 2026, and I highly recommend that you see a doctor not only when you are unwell but as a means to assess your state of wellbeing and take the needed precautions. It is critical that you find a good primary care doctor who is knowledgeable and proactive and will also be able to coordinate specialist care that you may require.
To make the most out of our time with the doctor we need to PREPARE. If your condition is an emergency, then you do not have the benefit of time to prepare.
A must do!
Kindly ensure your personal hygiene is excellent.
- Take a good bath and brush your teeth
- Wear clean clothes that also make undressing easy, especially if you need to expose some areas for inspection/examination.
This may sound ridiculous, but the opposite does happen in real life.
Remember that doctors are human and when you are unkempt you may not get adequate contact with your doctor.
Research on the symptoms
If you have access to the internet or a book worth its salt you may read about your symptoms or wait to read after your doctor tells you your diagnosis.
Remember that if you need to research on the internet, it is essential that you use a reputable site.
In tune with your complaints
- Write down your complaints/symptoms if you think you may forget.
- If you have had a similar problem and have the results of any investigations e.g. Laboratory tests, x-rays, CT scans etc kindly carry them along
- Let your doctor know if you react to any drugs.
- Be truthful about any medications you have taken for the condition, if you do not remember the names make sure you go with the containers.
- If you have any other medical conditions (and medication) make the doctor aware.
- Remember to make a note of the following
- When did the symptoms/complaint begin?
- How long have you had these symptoms?
- Is it getting worse?
- Does anything make the condition worse?
- What makes you feel better?
- Is anything related to their onset?
- How often does it occur?
- How long does it last e.g. in pain conditions as well as rash, allergies etc.
- Does anyone else in your family have them?
- How do they affect your daily life?
- Is it related to work or home?
You may need to modify these slightly when you have skin lesions, swellings etc. This list is by no means exhaustive, and you may not need to find answers to all of them before getting help, but they will definitely help you ace the visit to your doctor.
If your doctor books you for surgery, do not leave his presence without finding out the following:
- Will you go home on the same day of the surgery?
- Will you need assistance to go home or can you drive unsupervised for instance
- What form of anaesthesia will you be given?
Then, if your visit is for a medical examination, do remember that also being aware of disease conditions in your family will help your doctor select the appropriate tests and make the whole experience and time useful.
Finally do not leave your doctor without finding out:
- How much physical activity/exercise you require; the Almighty “FITT” prescription
- What you need to eat or avoid.
- Some basic information regarding SLEEP.
See you in the consulting room soon.
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)/Medics Clinic
(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 – “The next big thing in Healthcare in Ghana is the Medics Clinic. Visit https://medicsgroupgh.com/ for more information.”
References:
