Tag Archives: healthy

Ergonomics, Eye Protection, First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues

HOW PHYSICALLY FIT ARE YOUR EMPLOYEES?

It’s never too late for us to focus on developing and maintaining a fit and healthy workforce.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, regular physical activity can help control body weight, reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, improve brain function and moods, and strengthen bones and muscles.  Unless you work at a gym, are an athlete, or serve in the military, chances are some of your workforce is not as physically fit as others. 

So, what are you doing about it?  Depending on the size of the company, there are many things that can help employees become and remain stronger and healthier.  Luckily, in my experience working at a hospital, there were many services offered to the employees; things such as annual health fairs for employees and the public for various screenings, including cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose checks, and other health risk assessments.  There was also a cardiac center, where employees could use the equipment during times that patients were not present.  Our registered dietician conducted healthy food classes for employees, as well as patients that had experienced heart problems. 

If you are considering establishing a fitness program for your employees, first of all, you should conduct a survey to see how many are interested in participating.  Next, select a wellness committee to assume various duties, such as furnishing healthy snacks, and contacting outside health care personnel to present workshops.  You may already have an employee that is certified to teach First Aid Classes and C.P.R.  Search within your company to see which personnel can assume leadership roles by making it fun for all participants. 

Yoga, even 10-minute breaks at the workplace, can help a person escape from the stress of work.  Stress management “coaches” can teach techniques to relax and decompress from the strains both at work and home.  

Other ways to help your employees become more active, especially those whose jobs are sitting at a desk all day, are encouraging them to walk to discuss something with a coworker, rather than using email; take the stairs rather than elevator, and stand while talking on the phone.  Workers can get more exercise also by parking farther away from the building, getting off the bus earlier than the regular stop, and participating on a company sports team.  Get a group of workers together to take a lunch walk. 

Does your company encourage smoking cessation?  If not, this is a good time to start.  How about having contests between departments to bring healthy snacks every once in a while, rather than cookies, cakes, and all the good stuff?  Things such as fruit, nuts, cereals, yogurt, healthy muffins, and vegetables are much better for us all.  See which group comes up with the best ideas.

Workplace safety is a very important aspect of success in every workplace.  Does your workforce know what to do in case of an emergency?  Are there eyewash stations, and first aid supplies within the range of areas where they may be needed?  If not, now’s the time to get started on encouraging cooperation among workers to get healthy and stay that way, and be prepared in case of an emergency.

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

ONE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION NOT TO BREAK – EXERCISE!

Every New Year, we tell ourselves we are going to do better in the coming year.  At least, I do, but then it is hard too follow up and keep our promise to ourselves.  Some of the most popular things that are listed on my resolutions are:

  1. Planning to lose weight;
  2. Getting more exercise;
  3. Getting more sleep;
  4. Being more productive;
  5. Being more patient;
  6. Driving more carefully;
  7. Turning off the cell phone in the car;
  8. Being more punctual for jobs, appointments;
  9. Trying not to be as forgetful, 
  10. Keeping up with things better.

These are things that are important to me; however, when it comes to losing weight, it seems it hasn’t been important enough to give up desserts, which are my downfall.  So, here we go, one more year, one more time; let’s all try to do better! 

Here are some facts that might help us all realize why we need exercise and proper diet:

  • Significant health benefits can be gained by moderate physical activity, and greater benefits can be gained by additional physical activity.  At least 30 minutes a day is needed, which can be broken down in 15-minute increments if necessary.
  • Heart disease is the leading cause of death among men and women in the U.S.  Inactive people are twice as likely to develop coronary heart disease as regularly active people.
  • Poor diet and inactivity can lead to overweight/obesity.  Have you ever sat in a mall and noticed how many obese people there are?  Many are young people, who have probably preferred junk food to healthy food most of their lives.  We are certainly not judging, but obesity can lead to risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, gallbladder disease, and diabetes.
  • Nearly 60 million Americans are obese.  More than 108 million adults are either obese or overweight – meaning around 3 out of 5 Americans carry an unhealthy amount of excess baggage.
  • Not having enough time for exercise is one of the causes many people don’t get enough activity.  Young people should take advantage of physical education at school and get some kind of extra exercise.  Too many spend hours in front of their video games and television, which can get them into a sedentary rut. 
  • Workplaces should have safe places where their employees can work out on breaks, or at lunch.  Some worksites have walking trails on location, which gives their workers a chance to enjoy the outdoors and get a break from being inside all day.  Others have actual fitness centers for their employees.
  • Other health risks associated with physical inactivity are Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.  We once thought these to be age-related; however, they are now diagnosed in children and teens. 

This year I am going to print out my resolutions and post them where I won’t forget what I promised to do this year.  My dog Buddy is getting older, and he doesn’t want to walk as far as he used to.  So, I have used this as my excuse to go back into the house, as well.  I am going to put him back in, and continue to walk at least as far as I used to.  It is a great opportunity to get out and enjoy the outdoors, and plan my day. 

Good luck on your New Year’s resolutions.  After all, the definitions of resolutions are: decree, resolve, promise, solution.  And isn’t that what will happen, if we keep them?  May you have a safe, happy, prosperous, and healthy NEW YEAR!

General Safety Issues, Health Issues, Respiratory Safety

OCTOBER IS “HEALTHY LUNG MONTH!”

The American Lung Association has declared October – “Healthy Lung Month.”  Because our lungs are a very important part of our respiratory system, we need to do all we can to keep them healthy.  Bacteria, viruses, tobacco smoke, air pollution, chemicals – any of those things that we breathe can damage the airways and threaten to cause the lungs to not work properly. 

The air we breathe affects us at home, school, work, or outdoors.  Because the environment is full of pollutants, the media even gives us warning of pollen counts and other breathing hazards on a daily basis.  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.), Occupational Safety and Health Administration, (dictates standards to protect workers’ lungs), and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, (researches and generates knowledge of work-related illness), all are working to educate and enforce the importance of safety issues such as air quality for America’s workforce. 

In the workplace, respirators are an important tool of personal protective equipment to aide workers who must breathe in pollutants such as dust, chemicals, gases, fumes, oil-based aerosols, asbestos, and other air-borne particulates.  Respirators are also used in healthcare settings, such as hospitals, and by EMS/EMT, fire and rescue, school healthcare, industrial and manufacturing industries. 

Dust masks are loose-fitting filters that fit over the nose and mouth, capturing dust on the outside while the wearer breathes in air.  Respirators will have NIOSH marked on the outside, meaning they have been tested and certified.  There are many types of designs and uses of respirators.  The type of respirator to be selected depends on the hazards of each particular setting.  There are an estimated five million workers in the U.S. that are required to wear respirators in 1.3 million workplaces in the United States. 

 There are more than 159,000 deaths in the U.S. per year from lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control.  Although smoking is thought to be the leading cause of lung cancer, those workers who wear respirators are better protected from airborne hazards – many of which have been known to cause cancer, lung impairment, asthma, and other diseases, or death.   Last year, because of the H1N1 virus, respirators were in high demand.  I know several persons who wear a respirator when they travel, to avoid catching a “bug.”

It is important that employers take the time to check the air quality of the environment their workers are in every day.  Respirators should be selected and tested on each worker for proper fit.  The choice must be based on the workplace contaminants, concentrations, and all other specific conditions.  All selections should be compliant with State, Federal, and Local regulations on workers safety including but not limited to OSHA regulations on respiratory protection (29CFR 1910.134.)  Some respirators are suited for environments free from oil-based contaminants.  Others are used for types of gases, fumes, oil-based aerosols, and asbestos. 

We need to start our children out with healthy lungs, by keeping our homes properly ventilated and smoke-free.  It’s harmful for children to have to ride in a car that is full of smoke.  Outdoor activities are important for kids and adults, too, so report any locations that may cause pollution in your neighborhood.  Next, we need to be sure that their schools have healthy atmospheres.  They should be built with adequate ventilation and be cleaned regularly.  School buses may contribute to air pollution. 

Focus on good health for you and your family.  Keeping your lungs nice and pink is a smart thing to do.  Too many times we need to stop and take a deep breath, and if your lungs aren’t in good shape, it’s hard to do.