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Document 4

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q9krgp5gby
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“A healthy workplace is a place where everyone works together to

achieve an agreed vision for the health and well-being of workers


and the surrounding community. It provides all members of the
workforce with physical, psychological, social and organizational
conditions that protect and promote health and safety. It enables
managers and workers to increase control over their own health
and to improve it, and to become more energetic, positive and
contented.”
The goal of occupational health and safety (OHS), a branch of public health, is to
stop illnesses and accidents at work. It encompasses several different fields,
including epidemiology, ergonomics, toxicology, and violence prevention. It also
includes policies, guidelines, and initiatives aimed at enhancing the welfare,
health, and safety of employees and other stakeholders.
A healthy workplace is one in which leaders, managers, and staff members work
together to improve everyone's health, safety, and well-being by having open lines
of communication.
Issues with occupational health and safety (OHS) have presented the Ghanaian g
overnment with a number of difficulties. Let's examine some of the major obstacl
es Ghana faces in maintaining worker safety:
1. Absence of Comprehensive OHS Policy: Ghana does not have a comprehensive
policy pertaining to occupational health and safety. This lack makes it more diffic
ult to regulate and implement safety procedures in a variety of businesses.
2. Inadequate money and Infrastructure: The difficulties in delivering sufficient O
HS services are exacerbated by inadequate money and infrastructure. It become
s difficult to uphold safety regulations and encourage preventive actions in the a
bsence of adequate resources.
3. Lack of Qualified OHS Practitioners: The
lack of qualified occupational health and safety experts is a problem in Ghana. T
he lack of qualified professionals affects the capacity to properly monitor, evaluat
e, and apply safety procedures.
4. Limited Awareness and Information: The problem is made worse by a widespre
ad lack of sufficient knowledge regarding OHS. It's possible that many companies
and employees are unaware of safety procedures, which might result in avoidabl
e mishaps and health problems.
5. Non-Ratification of ILO Convention 1981 (No. 155): The International Labour O
rganisation (ILO) Convention 1981 (No. 155) establishes standards for occupation
al health and safety; Ghana has not ratified this convention. A complete national
OHS policy cannot be established as a result of this non-ratification.
In order to protect employees' health and provide a safer workplace, it is imperat
ive that these issues be addressed.
1.Enact a Comprehensive National OHS Policy: Ghana ought to cre
ate and execute a comprehensive national policy that is primarily
concerned with occupational health and safety.
This policy should give organisations in a variety of industries clea
r norms, standards, and best practices.
2. Education and Training: • Raise Awareness: Educate employers,
workers, and pertinent stakeholders about OHS through frequent
awareness campaigns.
Stress the value of risk avoidance, safe behaviours, and prompt re
porting of risks.
• Training Programmes: Make supervisory and employee training
obligatory.
Topics including hazard identification, emergency response, and t
he appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) should
all be included in these programs.
3. Risk Assessment and Management:
• Hazard Identification: Promote the completion of comprehensive
risk assessments in the workplace.
Determine any possible risks associated with chemicals, machiner
y, ergonomics, and psychological aspects.
• Control Measures: Put control measures in place to lessen risks t
hat have been identified.
This covers PPE U., administrative controls (like work schedules),
and engineering controls (like machine guards).
4. Monitoring Health: • Frequent Health Examinations:
Provide a mechanism for routinely monitoring employees' health.
Keep an eye on their physical and emotional well-being, particular
ly if they have been around dangerous substances or in demandin
g work environments.
• Early Detection: By identifying health problems early on, long-
term health effects can be avoided and prompt intervention is pos
sible.
5. Emergency Readiness:
• Plans for Emergencies: Create and disseminate plans for handlin
g emergencies.
Make sure staff members are aware of assembly locations, evacua
tion routes, and protocols in case of an emergency (such as a fire
or chemical leak).
• First Aid Training: Provide first aid and fundamental life-saving s
kills to assigned staff. • 6. Ergonomics at Work:
• Ergonomic examinations: To maximise workstations, seating, an
d equipment, do ergonomic examinations.
A healthy work environment lowers the chance of musculoskeletal
problems.
• Encourage Movement: To avoid health problems associated with
being inactive, promote frequent breaks, stretching, and moveme
nt.
7. Mental Health and Wellness:
• Handle Stress and Workload: Understand how psychosocial elem
ents (such as stress, workload, and relationships at work) affect o
ne's health.
Encourage a positive work atmosphere and offer resources for me
ntal health assistance. • Work-
Life Balance: To avoid burnout and enhance general wellbeing, pro
mote work-life balance.
8. Enforcement and Compliance: • Strengthen Regulatory Bodies:
Give regulatory agencies, such the Labour Department, the autho
rity they need to successfully enforce OHS laws. Penalties for non-
compliance and routine inspections are crucial.
• Cooperation: To advance OHS, encourage cooperation across civ
il society organisations, employers, trade unions, and government
agencies.
Recall that both economic growth and sustainable development ar
e facilitated by a safe and healthy labour force.
By putting these tactics into practice, Ghana can make the workpl
ace safer for every worker.

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