Safety At Work - Everyone's Resposibility

Off to work and driving

HEALTH ON HEELS

The popular notion that high heels defines a powerful, sophisticated and ambitious woman could be wrong. In the past, Egyptian butchers and Kings wore high heeled shoes. Catherine de media was one of the famous women who sold the success of high heels when she used same in complementing her short stature to boost her appearance as finance to the powerful Duke of Orleans.

High heels were abolished at a time not because of its negative health effects but to reduce the divide it created between the rich and poor and promote a sense of equality. Surprisingly , manufacturers had claimed that it reduces backaches and made walking less tiring.

Now, it is been found that high heels take a negative toll on women. The effects of high heeled shoes on women coupled with the normal stress of work  can be overbearing.
Some of the facts against high- heeled shoes include:

• changes the normal curvature of the back
• increases compressive forces on the lumbar spine. 

Women who wear high heels complain more of:

• leg pain and low back pain.

To prevent back pain and muscle problems :

• leave your heels for occasions better still those with less standing and less demanding physically.
• Wear flat shoes to work 
• Take a change of shoes if you must wear heels to work.

POWER NAPS IMPROVE WORK PRODUCTIVITY

Power nap isn't  new on the block. Winston Churchill who coined the term "power naps" claims that everyone must sleep some time between lunch and dinner. Margaret Thatcher snoozed around 2.30pm to 3.30pm everyday, George Bush did same around 3pm each day, other nappers include Eleanor Roosevelt and Albert Einstein  .
Whats new is that its gathered so much momentum that power naps machines now exist, outfits  provide services for workers to nap during breaks and  the  U.S National Transportation Safety Board recently suggested naps on the clock.
Some of the points favoring power naps include

• Power naps keep workers alert especially when safety is of key interest 
• improves mood and psycho-motor performance
• improves your heart health after a stressful event 
• prevent workers from staring blankly and achieving nothing after several hours at work
• Employers are beginning to embrace the idea of napping.

When power naps are planned and performed properly they are very beneficial. 

• Power naps simply put is voluntarily sleeping. 
• should last about 20mins
• is best done between 12 noon to 4pm
• remember don't sleep too long

Power nap is not catching 20mins sleep several times in one day that might cost you your job 

Workplace accidents in Lagos state: Lawma cleaner meets her death at work

Scene of accident involving Lagos state cleaner Martha Kpemeka. Terrified onlookers watch as the 62 year old breathes meets her death at the work. Lots of people have a story whats yours?
 Sorry oh but what is the retirement age again? 

Compensation is not enough

When the Compensation Act in December 2010 covering diseases and conditions arising from the place of work   it was not borne from to justify or tolerate handing out monetary compensations to our citizens without address the source of hazards and tackling it.

Lagos is a cleaner place, yes we all agree. We also agree that our city is not the first to embrace a clean environment strategy but there has to be a way to protect the health and well being of our cleaners who make the cities an enviable place.  Deaths of cleaners and environmental staff have become common place on our National dailies. GM LAWMA when asked responded that the 200,000 Naira was paid to the family and the bills of the burial. Is compensation enough and is that the way forward? 

Sitting DOs

Picture of a guitarist and sources of health hazards

Guitarists and repetitive strain injury

Guitarists get engrossed puckering away during performances. One hand movement is quickly followed by another in a deliberate rhythm to produce desired sound. Plucking movements are repetitive and performers are unaware of  their postures when sitting. Guitarist can suffer repetitive strain injury, back problems, vessel compression and abnormal muscle movements.

These problems are largely preventable yet many suffer from them. These problems are caused by result of repetitive movements, prolonged use of muscles, poor posture, exerting too much force and carrying heavy guitars especially electric guitars. Prevention lies in

• Maintaining an upright position, no slouching
• Using seats with backrests to support  your back
• Allow yourself rest in between practice times
• if you feel pain, strained or discomfort in any part of your body then its time to change position and take a rest.
• In cases where you feel undue pain or if pain persists consult your doctor

Improve performance on the microphone: Vocal health

Singing is one those prominent professions within entertainment industry today. Nigeria has produced reputable artists King Sunny Ade, Onyeka Onwenu, Sade Adu and  younger artists 2 Face, D Banj, Omawunmi and so many others are upcoming. Singing is not without it own hazards one which affects the vocal fords and quality of your voice. If you loose your voice what happens to your career. Voice strain and injury to the vocal folds are some of the hazards of singing.
Sound is normally produced by the vocal folds alongside supporting muscles and cartilages (collectively called Larynx) which can suffer strain from excessive use and hitting high notes. To improve your vocal health

• Take up to eight - ten glasses off water each day if your saliva is still dry then take more.

• Drink more of decaffeinated and non alcoholic drinks
• Avoid forcefully  clearing your throat.
• use of  Uh-huh or grunting or forcefully clearing your throat  is not helpful
• Avoid first hand or second hand cigarette smoking
• Speak slowly try not to squeeze in a few other words when out of one natural breath cycle.
• Enhance your voice at public speaking events with a microphone
• Stay away from fatty, spicy foods, alcohol should be minimized to 2 beers if at all
• Try as much as possible to face the person you are talking to and mouth your words.
• Avoid yelling, shouting instead clap to draw attention
• Use a soft voice rather than whispering
• Spend less time on the phone
• Strain, pain or croaking voice are signs of vocal cord injury. If you notice this then try to rest your voice alongside your body. Should complaints last longer than 2 weeks then see your doctor

Deafness in the music industry

Noise is an unwanted sound but in the music industry its the commodity of trade. Noise is constantly produced in the music industry and musicians get exposed to  noise when recording, at concerts, clubs, discos and performances. We know for certain that music bands (rock) produce as much as 105 - 111db of sound. Safe noise levels should not exceed 85db and it takes 16hours for the ear to revert to normal after  exposure to loud sounds.  Continuous exposure would compromise hearing function and the ear might not get up to 16 hours to fully recover before another bout. Noise causes hearing impairment and could lead deafness. Hearing ability is a prerequisite to function as an artist in the music industry, you need to hear yourself out to get paid. Do all you can to stay in and protect your hearing ability.

Poor work condition in Nigerian Entertainment industry exposed: Richard Mofe Damijo explains Sam Loco Efe dies from occupational stress

Working hours in the entertainment industry in Nigeria is deplorable. Richard Mofe Damijo, revealed that the work conditions in the Nigerian film industry are unacceptable. RMD explained that they could go long hours acting without food or rest and blames stress from poor work conditions as the cause of death of Sam Loco Efe.

Occupational stress is ubiquitous to all organizations. Stress is associated with  hypertension, diabetes , heart attacks and compromised immune status etc.

Proper hand hygiene

What do you carry?

It is clear that the door way to different worlds is in  your hands .  Its a hand shake which opens and seals transactions in the business world. Writing with your hands authorizes money in and out in the financial world.  A hug establishes our connection with our loved ones. Hands on your computer, slamming your fist to raise an objection in the law court, marking lesson notes, hands on the microphone, dispensing drugs. I bet  that whatever profession you practice even those who ping make use of their hands. It is crucial to know how to care for your hand to prevent you don't carry problems from work home or even endanger your lives.

• learn not to eat while working because you are  likely to pick up food with your bare hands without washing. This would prevent you from eating organisms you  obtained from shaking hands with colleagues at work, on the bus or open your car and whilst working or whatever means.
• If you must eat something whilst your work then learn have a snack and make sure your hands make contact with only the packaging
• Washing before and after every meal is mandatory
• Designate a particular place away from your workstation to have  lunch  (especially if you work with chemicals) to prevent food poisoning.
• Everyone knows to wash immediately after toileting
• You must find a way to wash your hands before you get off work to prevent sharing germs at work with family.

What do you carry in your hands?

How to know when to stop .....

Picture of golfer at work. Sport men or women who are golfers are prone to injuries or tears involving muscles attached at the elbow joint. Golfers elbow results from overuse, sprain of muscles attaching at the inner part of the elbow joint.  Pain worsened by play is an indication to stop and seek help 

Prevention of HIV, blood borne diseases in the film industry

Blood borne infections include HCV, HBV and other diseases indicated here incled Herpes virus, Human papilloma virus, Hepatitis A and sexually transmitted diseases.

Employers are to protect the health of their workers as far as reasonably possible  by training employees on hazards exposed to, simulating some of these scenes with acting and production techniques, ensuring sharps proper disposal of waste, provide hepatitis vaccinations, procedures for handling biological waste, gloves etc.

Actors, actresses, clean up staff should report all such incidences into an incident log book and to the employer. Then  immediately wash infected material off the body using soap and under running water.The employer owes the employee a duty to get source blood tested after consenting,  medical evaluation and follow up at no cost to the employee. An employee can also claim compensation if infected from an occupational incident.

Employees in the film industry face a high risk of contracting HIV and other blood borne infections

Movie stars are at a higher risk of contracting HIV, blood borne infections and other diseases as a result of their occupation. Sex scenes and kissing during which "acts" blood borne pathogens can be shared are common places in today's movie industry. Clean up staff can come in contact with sharps such as shaving sticks,blades, matches, needles and other infected material become exposed to these infections. Infected material could be from a spill, injury, accidents, used PPE (gloves, protective clothing etc).

Occupational hazards in the entertainment industry

Occupational diseases or accidents on movie sets are not uncommon.  91 people on site during the movie "The Conqueror " contracted cancer. 46 of them died including John Wayne, Agnes Moorehead  about 30years later from exposure to radioactive material at the nearby Neveda. Vic Marrow and child actor Myca Dinh Le  during the movie "Twilight zone" were decapitated by a helicopter flying low  while those on the helicopter suffered injuries. Roy Kinnear in "The return of the musketeers:" fell over a horse, sustained a broken hip and died of a heart attack the next day.

Occupational Hazards: Ramsey Noah escapes Death

Ramsey Noah had an accident  whilst performing a stunt for a recent movie. Sheer luck allowed the 38year old actor some chance to get to a medical facility in Ghana. Luck because of the response awarded to the victim after the accident. Ramsey Noah  fell from the top of a building, (how many stories tall?) onto a concrete floor. He suffered bleeding from the mouth and lay on the fall for 30minutes unable to move or talk.

What is amazing about Ramsey Noah's accident is the careless attitude given towards safety as it affects health. It would have been appropriate and less costly to put up a guard rail or fall arrest system,assessed the adequacy of space for the stunt to prevent this accident. Reports adds that the actor was left  lying on the floor for 30mins after the fall. Were the onlookers expecting him to rest a little before he continued or maybe he was left to fate or was it out of ignorance he was left there?

Accidents of this nature could lead to broken  legs or arms, broken ribs, rupture of the lungs with severe breathing problems, head trauma, internal bleeding from damaged organs, long term health problems and could be fatal. The first few minutes are very crucial in the outcome of an emergency. A lot of times the extent of injury sustained may not be commensurate with the person's physical appearance. Therefore, steps taken during this time could predict the outcome of this accident.  

The next few hours to days after this type of injury are very crucial as events could swing the outcome in any direction. 

Onlookers present at the scene are encouraged to throw more light about how events unfolded and enlighten the public.

Shell accepts liability for two massive oil spills that have had severe impact on the economy, health and development of the community of Bodo in Nigeria

In 1993, the late Ken Saro-Wiwa led the campaign against environmental pollution due to activities of Oil and gas industries in the Niger Delta region. Experts now report on BBC news  the extent of damage caused by the multinational oil producing Giant SHELL.  The spillage  has been compared to the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska which was estimated at 10million gallons of oil. On 3rd August 2011, SHELL admitted to two devastating oil spills  in Nigeria's Ogoniland and now faces 26million pounds fine in a Nigerian court

Mr D.T develops allergic reactions as a result of his job

Mr D.T recently changed job from painting to gardening in an industry. 

He became allergic on the job within one month of resuming the new role.  D.T's employers started to complain when he took one week off sick in his first month of resumption. His company’s health and safety manager organized for him to see an occupational health advisor for an assessment. It was discovered that his Mr DT was allergic to pollen grains. His new job brought him in contact with pollen and he suffered breathing problems. Does everyone with this job role end up this way?

Pregnant women demonstrating correct use of seat belt whilst driving to work

Pregnant women demonstrating the use of seat belts whilst driving to work. Remember to have both straps on all the time. One goes between both breasts and the another across your hips not over your abdomen.