Why Occupational Health and Safety Ought to be a Requirement in all Workplaces

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Most people would agree that occupational health and safety is important in all workplaces. After all, who would want to work in a place where they risk injury or illness, notes health and safety specialist Captain Martin Sanders, Ph.D., CSP.

 

However, as Capt. Martin Sanders explains people do not realize that occupational health and safety is not just about preventing accidents; it's also about creating a safe and healthy work environment for all employees.

A Safe Work Environment For All

 

There are many essential benefits to having a robust occupational health and safety program. For example, it can help reduce the number of workplace injuries and illnesses, saving businesses money on workers' compensation costs. It can also improve employee morale and productivity while creating a safer work environment.

 

There are many valid reasons to have an occupational health and safety program, but there are also some important things to keep in mind when creating one. Here are a few tips as shared by Capt. Martin Sanders:

 

·         Ensure that everyone is aware of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the regulations that apply to their work.

 

·         Educate the people who work in the area about potential hazards in the workplace and how to avoid them.

 

·         Ensure that every piece of machinery and equipment is adequately maintained and safe to use.

 

·         Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to employees who may be exposed to hazardous materials or conditions.

 

·         Establish emergency procedures for dealing with accidents and incidents.

 

·         Regularly inspect the workplace to identify potential hazards and correct them.

 

By following these tips, you can create a safe and healthy work environment for your employees and help reduce the risk of workplace dangers and hazards. 

 

Would you add more to the list? If so, what tips would you include? Feel free to share them with Capt. Martin Sanders in the comments below.

 

For more discussions on occupational health and safety by Capt. Martin Sanders, Ph.D., CSP, bookmark this link.

 

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government.

 

Air pollution and public health

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Occupational health and safety concerns continue to become a serious matter today, notes safety expert Martin Sanders. There are consequences to having a developing world, and one of these is the increasingly poor quality of air. Certainly, air pollution becomes a challenge for public health.

This blog shares several facts that are worth looking at:

1. The biggest environmental risk of early death

It might surprise you to find out that air pollution is the biggest environmental risk of early death. Statistics show that this is responsible for 1 out of every nine deaths. That points to about 7 million deaths each year, and it is worth noting that this is more than the annual fatalities due to HIV, notes Martin Sanders.

2. More widespread than you would expect

There are 500,000 deaths related to air pollution each year in Europe, while there are 300 million people who live in places that have been tagged to have extreme air pollution. These places include India and China, where toxic fumes are six times higher than international guidelines.

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3. A warning on tiny particles

According to experts, the most dangerous type of air pollution is characterized by the presence of tiny particles. They cause serious damage to the lungs, but this is the bare minimum damage they can cause. When these enter the bloodstream, they can poison various organs inside the body. Often, these are made of nitrates, sulfates, and mineral dust.

Capt. Martin Sanders, Ph.D., is a scientist and a commissioned officer of the U.S. Public Health Service. He continues to provide his expertise in public health and occupational safety by acting as a consultant. For updates, visit this page.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government.

Psychological safety as it relates to occupational health

Martin Sanders has developed a keen eye for matters that affect occupational health and safety because he truly understands its purpose. In fact, a lot of the success of occupational health and safety has to do with other aspects, which may not be obvious. In this entry, he talks about psychological safety as it relates to occupational health.

In Canada, psychological safety has become more inclusive in occupational health and safety policy, as directed by no less than the government. Prince Edward Island (PEI) Director of Occupational Safety Danny Miller himself pointed out the responsibility of employers in ensuring the safety of their people. He also made particular mention of the prevention of harassment in the workplace.

The need to revisit regulations and take in newer inclusions have undoubtedly resulted from a 2013 incident, which saw an employee die due to workplace bullying and other forms of workplace stress, based on the findings of the Workers Compensation Board.

While some things still need to be ironed out in the actual legislation that would take in new inclusions, the PEI government has already issued a statement notifying all employers of the changes that will eventually take effect. In the meantime, they are expected to take the time and the effort to prepare themselves and their organizations for the new rules.

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This development is a testament to the quick recognition of the people in authority of the reality of workplace bullying and harassment, especially how this can pose a threat to employees' lives in the workplace.

As an expert in occupational safety and health, Capt. Martin Sanders has been helping out many business institutions in keeping their workforce more resilient against various challenges. For more updates, visit this page.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government.

Change of habit: Make your office more environmentally friendly with these easy ways

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Martin Sanders has been helping many organizations become more environmentally compliant, and often, people have attested to the kind of revolutionary impact his wisdom has brought to many organizations. However, Martin believes that even the little things can already make a difference. This blog shares some habits that can make the office more environmentally friendly.

Make your waste smaller

The simple act of making waste smaller before you chuck it in the bin maximizes space. Doing this ensures a more efficient collection of waste, thereby reducing the frequency that collection has to be made in your office. In addition, according to Martin Sanders, it saves a lot on garbage bags that are made of plastic, whose consumption rate badly needs to be reduced.

Use both sides of the paper

Many offices have gone paperless, but there is still a need to use paper sometimes. For example, if you are drafting a piece of communication or any official document that needs to be reviewed, it's best to use the clear backside of an older piece of paper. There are still those who print as they please, which is truly a result of a force of habit. However, changing it for the better can make a huge difference in an office's collective waste production.

Bring your own bottle

Water bottles available in the convenience store or the grocery are often made for single use. Considering that you might need to consume 4 or 5 of those in a day, that shows how much waste is produced. On the other hand, a reusable bottle or flask can serve as much for a long time, bringing down the volume of plastic bottle use at work.

Capt. Martin Sanders, Ph.D., was appointed by the Surgeon General as the Chief Scientist for the U.S. Public Health Service and had behind him more than a decade of service in the occupational safety and health sector. For more about his work, visit this page.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government.

Common health hazards at work and how to prevent them

 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration regards workplace hazards as risks or those threatening a workplace duty or environment. If these hazards remain unattended and unassessed, they could lead to injuries and illnesses among employees. Employers are given the responsibility to provide employees a safe and secure space to work, shares Captain Martin Sanders, Ph.D.

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Among the workplace hazards present in the workplace are biological hazards, physical hazards, and chemical hazards. Biological hazards come from organisms, animals, plants, and humans, posing a threat to a person’s health. Typical examples of these are molds, blood, bodily fluids, and sewage. In general, people experience allergic reactions when exposed to these, causing them to pause from work.

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Workplace hazards that are corrosive, toxic, combustible, and flammable are called chemical hazards. These put a person’s life at risk when they inhale, ingest, or touch it. Harmful and acute burns, vomiting, irritation, asthma, and other chronic or critical issues may arise from these. Physical hazards deal with natural elements and activities in a workplace that can put a person’s life in danger. Poor air quality, extreme temperatures, excessive noise, and radiation exposure are categorized as physical hazards, which can cause hearing impairment, cancer, respiratory issues, and other health problems.

According to Captain Martin Sanders, Ph.D., the best way to prevent these is to employ safety managers in the workplace to reduce the consequences of environmental hazards. They investigate and analyze the workplace environment to effect necessary changes or health and safety standards to prevent employees from falling due to environmental hazards.

Captain Martin Sanders, Ph.D., has over a decade of service in the occupational safety and health sector. He possesses extensive experience in biological defense activities and infectious disease outbreak investigations. Head over to this blog for more updates.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, or the United States Government.

Musculoskeletal disorders that everyone needs to know

 

The body is exposed to many work-related injuries, especially when lifting or moving heavy objects beyond one's physical capacity. Capt. Martin Sanders notes that this could result in musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) that the body may suffer from. Today's article will discuss this work-related risk and how such life-changing disabilities affect productivity.

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Occupation is one of the risk factors in having musculoskeletal disorders; others are age, activity level, lifestyle, family history. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are conditions affecting the muscles, bones, and joints. Specifically, work-related MSDs are often described as injuries or disorders, including the nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage, and spinal discs.

Although the risk of developing MSDs increases as you get older, your work conditions may lead to it in advance. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) may be brought on by performing heavy tasks, especially for construction workers, machine operators, and the like. Examples include, but not limited to, lifting heavy objects, exposure to vibration, work with the neck in a flexion position, and repeating forceful tasks.

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Workers who suffer from work-related MSDs are affected in their productivity, resulting in absenteeism, increased healthcare, disabilities, and other compensation costs, explains Capt. Martin Sanders. Certain musculoskeletal disorders include tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), fibromyalgia, and bone fractures. However, on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website, injuries caused by incidents such as slips, trips, falls, and the like are not considered musculoskeletal disorders.

Captain Martin Sanders is a seasoned public health and safety professional with more than a decade of experience. He served as Director of Safety, Environmental Compliance and Emergency Management of the Federal Occupational Health, Program Support Center, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration. For similar updates, visit this blog.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, or the United States Government.

Major disciplines of environmental health

 

There are five major disciplines in the field of environmental health. Captain Martin Sanders wishes the public to understand the role of Public Health Officers, as he lays down an overview of each discipline that has an impact on our natural and built environments.

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Environmental epidemiology

It studies the impact of environmental exposures on human health, such as exposure to radiation, chemicals, microbiological agents, etc. However, with ethical considerations, these studies are 'observational' in nature, meaning information is gathered after exposure has occurred.

Toxicology

Unlike environmental epidemiology, studies here involve animal subjects to determine the effects of environmental exposure and to understand possible health outcomes in humans. Careful analysis and interpretation must be considered since animal- and human biology are significantly different.

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Exposure science

Studies under this discipline support environmental epidemiology by identifying and quantifying exposures. It describes the exposure and its impact on health, identifies them through toxicology study, or determines exposure levels. These are like lab results that a doctor uses to assess a person's health based on the numbers that he or she sees.

Environmental engineering

The main goal of this discipline is to protect human health, the health of organisms, and the quality of the environment. To achieve this, environmental engineers devise solutions such as wastewater management, recycling, air and water pollution control, among others.

Environmental law

This is simply concerned with statutes, regulations, treaties, common laws, and customary laws which govern and addresses human activity and its impact on the environment.

Captain Martin Sanders, Ph.D., is a seasoned public health and safety expert with more than a decade of service in the occupational health and safety sector. He was Director of Safety, Environmental Compliance and Emergency Management of the Federal Occupational Health, Program Support Center, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration. He recently obtained a certification as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) awarded by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. For similar writings, visit this page.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, or the United States Government.