Occupational Health and Hygiene Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Occupational Health and Hygiene. Answer: Introduction Employees travelling to international countries ought to be well protected so as to reduce the risks. Care standards as stipulated in the UK, the company has a responsibility to train the staff, ensure that the staff is adequately prepared by provision of the equipment, ensure that they are well informed and they should get the necessary support they need. The two hundred and fifty employees need to be aware that they ought to fill forms on risk assessment, security safety and travel form. Toxicology is the process by which poisonous substances are analyzed and the potential effect the substance has to the people exposed. This includes the various properties of the chemicals they are exposed to, the ventilation in the workplace and occupational hazards (OBren and Hussey 2017, p. 4). Findings The current two hundred and fifty employees lack proper protective equipment to protect them from exposure to potential hazards. The employees need to be provided with aprons to prevent them from being contaminated during work. Occupational health helps in maintaining the productivity of the company. The company has not adequately provided enough signage in the work area. This leads to improper work flow and this leads to contamination. The employees currently do not do necessary research on their travel destination and thus subjecting themselves to risks when they are overseas. Currently, there is no defined method of reporting incidents whenever they occur. The company ought to make clear guidelines on reporting and documenting incidents. Employees must also seek necessary health advice so as to avoid travel or work associated risks on their health. All employees are required to be covered by insurance that is acceptable globally. Risk assessment must be documented and necessary ad vice should be indicated. There should be minimal standards that have to be met by the company and employees before they leave for overseas. Local travel should be organized early to avoid employees being stranded and a crisis management should be formed and employees while in overseas should have extra money to use whenever an emergency occurs e.g. flight cancellation. Discussion. Risk Assessment Risk assessment is an important aspect in ensuring that our staff is well aware of what they may face while they have travelled. Risk assessment ought to be done prior to commencement of the journey. The assessment will also determine the fitness of the employees so as to ascertain that they are fit. There is need to ensure that the staff travelling overseas are of sound health. This assessment will prevent additional risks that unhealthy individuals may face. The already existing conditions will guide and thus the individual will not be compounded by the work load while overseas. The company ought to have an office on occupational health and safety to enable the employees to seek advice from them. There are various factors of consideration that guide risk assessment before the employees embark on their journey. Employees ought to have their personal protective equipment while preparing on the overseas travel. The employees should find information on any endemic disease that could be available during their travel schedule. They should also assess the risk relating to their safety e.g. criminals or disruptions on political or civil grounds. The employees need to know if there could be conflicts between countries neighboring their destination. Medical assessment is also vital to determine any existing medical condition, whether there are water borne illnesses in their travel destination and safety of their personal possessions such as mobile phones or bank cards (Smith 2012, p. 37). The management ought to be ready to direct the employees who may have issues with the risk assessment. Employees ought to complete the various forms of risk assessment in full and any issues raised ought to be handled professionally. Risk assessment of the individual traveler helps medical practitioners to base their advice on the travelers health. After assessment, relevant medications and vaccinations are done. The assessment determines: the health of the traveler, reason and time of travel, the destination and the individual behavior of the traveler (Zuckerman 2015, p. 34). Insurance The company ought to invest on an insurance policy to cover our employees while working abroad. It must be mandatory for all of the employees to travel with their insurance cards so as to be able to be covered in case of an accident while at work. Employees also have to be informed that the cover may reduce if their travel destination is sanctioned. All claims ought to be reported immediately and in case one loses his or her property, they ought to report to the local police and get necessary documentation. Employees travelling overseas ought to comply to the risk assessment requirements so that their cover is not conditioned (Hathway 2014,p. 138). Health advice. The companys management ought to ensure that the employees travelling overseas re advised adequately on the associated risks that they could face during the travel. The occupational health department that is to be established will guide the employees at least one month before their travel schedule. Employees are advised to contact their general practitioners before their travel. They should also be guided to familiarize themselves with the flight hours. During the travel, employees may be subjected to carry first aid kits, repellants against insects, and medication on diarrhea. Anti-malaria medication and mosquito nets should also be included during travelling (Perrewe 2011, p. 112). Due to the homogenous composition of the employees, special considerations are done so as to avoid contraindication. Before considerations are made, elderly persons are advised to seek medical advice. Expectant ladies past their second trimester are discouraged from air travels. Certain vaccinations cannot be done to expectant ladies and that restricts their travelling. Expectant ladies are also at a risk of developing complications during travelling internationally. Hepatitis E and malaria can be fatal when travelling. Altitudes also have an impact on expectant ladies, this can lead to unnecessary pressure and thus leading to miscarriages. There are a number of illnesses that increase health risks when travelling. Travelers are advised to bring with them their relevant medications during the flight. The illnesses include: cardiovascular illnesses, diabetes mellitus, severe anemia, chronic illnesses needing attention, respiratory illnesses, epilepsy etc. (Hamilton 2003, p. 48). Accident reporting Employees are to report all incidents that happen while they are overseas. They should report the incident in writing and this will enable follow up and appropriate action to be taken. Near miss cases must also be reported to enable mitigation strategies to be deployed. Procedures should be printed and pinned on strategic locations to enable the employees remember whatever that is expected of them. Incidents of greater magnitudes ought to be reported immediately so that the insurance can make a follow up. The contact information of the insurance should be printed at the back of the insurance cards to enable all the employees to possess the contact (Levy 2005, p. 39). Terrorism Terrorism being a global issue, persons of British origin have become a target. In spite the diversity of nationalities in the company, employees should be made to have contact addresses of their various embassies while in overseas. Employees must be aware of the situation of their travel destination. This risk assessment must be done through reading and watching news on their travel destination. Employees should also be made to avoid social gathering joints of overseas so as to avoid getting to become targets. Employees also ought to have proper plans that are well documented to enable a follow up. While in overseas, the employees are expected to stay in areas they can get help whenever emergency situations occur (Smedley 2013, p. 238). Communication The company is required to be making periodic calls to it is employees while they are overseas. It is important for the company to be in constant communication with it is employees to ascertain their safety. Staff mobile phones must always be set to international roaming so as to enable accessibility. The mobile phones must be standardized to enable them to work in all countries that they may visit while on duty. The company ought to invest on a backup plan to enable communication to it is employees. All necessary details about the various employees ought to be captured accurately so as to enable communication to them or their next of kin (Kloss 2013, p. 94). Standards for overseas travel. The company must lay down regulations guiding employees on overseas travelling. The standards will act as a control to the employees and will also enable the management to obtain the necessary documents for the same. The company must arrange for flights and accommodation for the employees early enough. The agency that is mandated to guide the employees must also provide an avenue of contacting each and every individual while they are working abroad. The employees should also be subjected to carry contact cards that are to be used in case of emergency. Employees must also not be subjected to other duties if the flight they are to take is longer than six hours. Employees should be given recovery days whenever they extend their duties while overseas. A risk assessment ought to be done on various times the group is to travel. This will enable reducing unnecessary costs. Senior management officials must also not be allowed to travel if they do not have functions that may need their attention. Employees must also receive standard accommodation while overseas. The facilities should enable a healthy stay. A risk assessment must also be done to determine if they are required to carry extra facilities while they are overseas (WHO 2009, p. 84). Local travel. In chances that our staff will be required to drive themselves, they are required to familiarize themselves with the local regulations. The company should also provide means of movement by making prior arrangements e.g. booking early or even hiring vehicles that will assist (WHO 2009, p. 84). Crisis management Emergencies are bound to happen without warning. Whenever they occur, the staff should be able to contact the head office immediately and seek local assistance from our travel agency. Limits on credit cards should be increased so as to enable our employees to be able to manage themselves. This in particular can be helpful in case their flight is cancelled on their day of travel (Halbesleben 2012, p. 173). Reference contact Each staff member is required to have the necessary contact information of the group leader. The leader should be notified of all activities that one may want to undertake. This approach is necessary for accountability and traceability purposes {Spellman 2011, p. 71}. Considerations when putting procedures into place. Conduct talks to educate the employees on the need to adhere to the companys regulations. Involve the employees during the regulation making processes so that they feel that they own the regulations. Ensure that all the employees have sufficient personal protective equipment and it is good shape, create a conducive environment for all the employees so that work related stress can be reduced and early communication to the employees is necessary so that the employees have adequate time to prepare for the international travel (Lewis 2012, p. 63). Conclusion Provision of personal protective equipment leads to prevention of hazards in the work place. Utilization of facial masks helps in prevention of inhalation and ingestion of poisonous substances. International travel regulations ought to be adhered to. It is advisable for travelers to plan ahead before their travelling time so as to make necessary arrangements on good areas that practice good hygiene. The company should introduce programs that will help integrate individuals at the work place. Stressed persons ought to seek counseling services. The services will help them to cope to the various challenges that they face while in the work environment. Proper management of stress will prevent progression and thus preventing development of illnesses. Recommendations Drafting of relevant regulations to guide the employees on the importance of occupational health. Conducting public health talks to educate the employees on the need to adhere to the safety regulations. Ensure that there is adequate signage to remind the employees on the need to ensure that they comply with health and hygiene regulations. Motivate the employees when they observe enacted regulations so as to build the need to comply with the regulations (Smedley 2013, p. 238). References Halbesleben, J. and Rosen, C. (2012). The role of the economic crisis on occupational stress and well being. 10th ed. Bingley: Emerald. Hamilton Richard J. (2003). Occupational ,Industrial , and environmental Toxicology. Pennsylvania: Mosby ,Inc, p.48. Hathaway, G. and Proctor, N. (2014). Proctor and Hughes' Chemical Hazards of the Workplace. 3rd ed. Hoboken: Wiley-Interscience [Imprint], p.138. International travel and health. (2009). Geneva: World Health Organization. Kloss, D. (2013). Occupational Health Law. 5th ed. Somerset: Wiley, p.94. Levy, B. (2005). Preventing occupational disease and injury. 3rd ed. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association. Lewis, J. and Thornbory, G. (2012). Employment Law and Occupational Health. 7th ed. Somerset: Wiley, p.63. O'Brien, J. and Hussey, S. (n.d.). Introduction to occupational therapy. 5th ed. Elsevier - Health Sciences Division, p.7. Perrewe, P. and Ganster, D. (2011). The role of individual differences in occupational stress and well being. 3rd ed. Bingley, U.K.: Emerald. Smedley, J., Dick, F. and Sadhra, S. (2013). Oxford handbook of occupational health. 3rd ed. Oxford: OUP Oxford, p.238. Smith, Q. (2012). Occupational diseases. 2nd ed. NewYork: Oxford University Press, p.37. Spellman, F. and Bieber, R. (2011). Physical hazard control. 2nd ed. Lanham, Md.: Government Institutes, p.71. Zuckerman, J., Leggat, P. and Brunette, G. (2015). Essential Travel Medicine. 2nd ed. Budapest: John Wiley Sons.