Dome Market, A Health Hazard

While we are faced with Cholera and the threat of Ebola we are tasked to be more conscience about our environment and aspects that are likely to contribute to an increased risk of becoming infected by these health hazards.

In Ghana we have failed in managing our environment and the result of failure is all around us, in our gutters and on our roads and very unfortunately in our market places. 

The Netherlander Embassy in Ghana quoted the Ghana health service on the current spread of cholera in the country as referenced below.

REPORTS FROM THE GHANA HEALTH SERVICE INDICATE THAT THE CURRENT CHOLERA OUTBREAK STARTED IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR IN THE CENTRAL REGION AND IT’S KEPT SPREADING AND KILLING PEOPLE. FIVE REGIONS ARE CURRENTLY INFECTED AND THEY INCLUDE, GREATER ACCRA, CENTRAL, EASTERN, UPPER WEST AND THE NORTHERN REGIONS. THE REPORTED INFECTED CASE ARE ABOUT 5,308 AND THESE FIGURES ARE RISING BY THE DAY, A TOTAL OF 67 DEATHS HAS SINCE BEEN REPORT GIVING A DEATH RATE OF 1.5%. 

With this in mined I took a walk down to my local market "Dome" where those in the immediate and surrounding catchment area regularly shop. Dome is only 20 minutes drive from the Capital Accra and serves middle class residential estates such as CFC, Parakuo and a few more. However on the ground, the state and condition in the market begs the question should all the food products not be considered contaminated, and a such quarantined and destroyed in our fight to reduce the spread of cholera. 

There are authorities tasked to manage the affairs of our environment such as the EPA environmental protection agency. the health ministry and many more, in the market it self, they have the market queen, whose role it is to manage and maintain the market to a standard befitting of a place food items are sold. 

As it is often said, a picture is worth a thousand words and on that basis I leave you the reader to make up your own mind on the effectiveness of the current conditions in Dome market in tackling the cholera epidemic.

Click the images to enlarge and scroll.

Domestic Fire Safety Installation

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First Aid At Work

Observing the risk in the work environment by carrying out  a risk assessment allows for a better appreciation of  the hazards in the work place and their risk profile (likelihood and severity)
It helps to have an idea of associated hazards in the work place.

Below is hazards. causes of accidents and type of injury from these accidents.

 Assessing the number of First Aiders to be needed in your work environment with the chart below allows the organisation to establish the number of First Aiders that would be needed in the work environment. Some work places depending on the number of workers around may not necessarily have First Aiders but will still have to make provision for the First Aid box and appoint an individual who would take on the role as a First Aider in an emergency situation with a basic understanding of the requirements of a First Aider

The basic role and responsibility of a First Aider is illustrated below. Following DRSABCD guides the First Aider in administering the First Aid. First is defined as the first response given to an ill or injured person until full medical help arrive. The idea is to make the injured party feel relaxed and reasonably comfortable, keeping the individual interacting to avoid them going into shock and gather as much information to be passed on to the Ambulance Crew. Remember the first step is to always assess the dangers around and to ensure you do not put yourself and others including the injured party at any further risk.   

Using some of the kit in the First Aid box, is illustrated below always remember a First Aider is not a medical practitioner and so is not qualified to administer any medicine such as pills or injections 

It is advised that as a First Aider one has to be trained and certified to ensure competence in their role and a better understanding of their responsibility in carrying out their duty. The St.Johns Ambulance offers First Aid training that would equip your First Aiders. 

Lecture with GIPAC

A Ghana Institute for Pure and Applied Chemistry (GIPAC)

Laboratory Health and Safety for Schools and Colleges at Chemu Secondary School Tema 

Dey-Innovations Limited was proud to be given the opportunity to lecture at the event 

               

Home Safety, Electrical

Remember that risk is not only in the work environment, with electrical equipment widely used in the household it is very important we always keep our guard. 

• Remember that water and electricity does not mix 
• That means if your hands or feet are wet, do not touch any electrical equipment 
• Make sure you test all electrical equipment to ensure they are not leaking electricity
• Remember there are more vulnerable people in the house hold (kids) so think ahead and reduce the risk 
• Mop the floor when water spills from the fridge 
• Do not leave the fridge in a puddle of water 
• Have a good clean with the towel after bathing before touching the iron 
• Do not insert and naked wires without plugs into sockets 

Put your fridge on a plate form not directly on the floor 

Plug your fridge and other electrical equipment through a stabilizer to reduce the effect of power surge.

The schematics of electrical supply to the household, showing the volts being pulled.

Do not use home made extension lead sockets, they are not made to factory standard with best practice and safety net.

A simple calculation 

Watts / Volts = Amps 

The average electrical supply to a house is 240v 

The average watts of a house hold iron is 1200 to 1500w 

Thus 1200/240 = 5 Amps 

A kettle pulls just as much watts 1200 - 1500watts 

Look behind the home electrical equipment to get to know the current being pulled by the equipment.