The Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana has organised a training workshop on occupational health and safety in flood and fire management to educate the public on precautions necessary for disastrous moments.

The training which was dubbed: “An evening with Dr Albert Brown Gaisie and Wise Ametefe” was to make the public aware that occupational health and safety is more than accident prevention; and why commitment to health and safety is crucial.

The objective of the training was also to make participants recognise a number of occupational hazards and some of the types of work generally associated with those dangers and discuss the range in their own work places.

Dr Gaisie, Chief Fire Officer, Ghana National Fire Service, said poor working conditions of any type have the potential of affecting workers’ health and safety.

He mentioned dusts, gases, noise, vibrations, and extreme temperature as some of the health hazards faced by workers every day at work settings.

“It is unfortunate how some employers assume little responsibility for the protection of workers’ health and safety. In fact some employers do not even know that they have the moral and often legal responsibility to protect workers,” he said.

He said lack of attention by employers has made work-related accidents and diseases common in all parts of the world.

Dr Gaisie said the common occupational diseases include asbestosis, silicosis, lead poisoning, noise-inducted hearing loss which is caused by noise common in many work places where noise making machines are used as well as airports.

He said there are also a number of potentially crippling health problems that could be associated with poor working conditions such as heart disease, musculoskeletal disorders such as permanent back injuries or muscle disorders, allergies, reproductive problems, and stress-related disorders.

He said understanding industrial processes, materials used, processes involved, set ups, manufacturing, cleanups, maintenance and personal protective equipment as things one should consider to recognise possible hazards in an institution.

He said: “Most workers are faced with a combination of these hazards. For instance, it is not difficult to imagine a work place where you are exposed to chemicals, unguarded and noisy machines, hot temperatures and slippery floors all at the same time.”

Mr Ametefe, Registrar of the Engineering Council, said among the causes of flood are rainfall increase in intensity and climate change; urban sprawl and emergence of slums in various parts of Accra including waterways; no adherence to building regulations and bye-laws; problems of poor sanitation; and undersize hydraulic structures due to design and construction defects.

He said flood causes water borne diseases such as diarrheoa, typhoid, malaria, bilharzia, and dysentery.

The Registrar said flooding also causes famine by destroying farms and cash crops, human lives and property and make individuals and communities poor through disruption of services.