28^th April marks World Day for Safety and Health at Work and our theme this year is “safety and health and the future of work.” Safety and health should be at the heart of the future of work and there should be no compromise. The world may have come a long way with regards to safety and health at work but there is still so much that can be done and quite a number of us have been left far behind. Today we should all take additional steps to make our work environment safer and our work force healthier.

Technology, Globalisation, Demographics and Climate Change have impacted on the work environment in many ways and we need to continuously modify our systems to make life better.

“Stress, excessively-long working hours (overtime) and disease, contribute to the deaths of nearly 2.8 million workers every year, while an additional 374 million people get injured or fall ill because of their jobs” - the UN labour agency, ILO

DAILY STATISTICS THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND

• 7,500 people die each day due to unsafe and unhealthy working conditions
• 6,500 people die each day from work-related diseases
• 1,000 people die from occupational accidents daily

Demands on all of us has increased as we are expected to produce more at work, work for longer hours and then we return home to do more work especially our women who are often the primary caregivers for children and ageing parents. Most of us have barely anytime to exercise, get adequate sleep and also engage in any form of recreational activity. This vicious cycle predisposes us to diseases and more accidents at work even in the best work environment.

Since majority of us spend most of our wakeful hours at work, I strongly recommend that workplace wellness programmes are strengthened and enforced in addition to providing safe conditions. Even ensuring that we all walk at least 10 minutes a day is a fantastic start. PREVENTION is key!!

Screening for common diseases as well as work-specific disease conditions should also be a regular feature.

Taking short breaks to stretch joints, relax and drink clean water will go a long way to ensuring we have a fitter and more productive workforce. The choice of food especially what is eaten during work hours is also an area that cannot be glossed over.

I have raised points for the individual but employees, management and Government agencies should also work together to ensure a safe work environment.

We have what it takes to limit the carnage at work!

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/St Andrews Clinic

(www.healthessentialsgh.com)

*Dr. Kojo Essel is a Medical Doctor, holds an MBA and is ISSA certified in Exercise Therapy, Fitness Nutrition & Corrective Exercise.

Thought for the week – "It’s not only working conditions that have changed over time, it’s the nature of health and safety hazards as well."

ILO Director-General, Guy Ryde

“work should not be a war zone but a place we look forward to going to put our skills to use” – Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel

World Malaria Day – April 25^th. A gentle reminder that malaria is an extremely deadly illness yet preventable. We should be excited about the vaccine and listen and watch keenly.

References

1. www.ilo.org/safeday
2. https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/