Many workplace tragedies are often preventable! For Occupational Health and Safety officer Martin Bugeja, this is perhaps the real tragedy – the revelation that, with a bit of forethought and attention, the worker involved in an accident would have been able to return home to his family at the end of the day. This is his contribution to fight the prevalent laissez-faire attitude at many of the island’s workplaces.

Better a poor man strong and robust, than a rich man with wasted frame.
More precious than gold is health and well-being, contentment of spirit than coral.
No treasure greater than a healthy body...

The above verses are taken from the Book of Sirach. Biblical scholars are of the opinion that it was written between 200 and 175BC. The author was no doubt a wise and experienced observer of life. Who would dare dispute the inherent truthfulness in these words? Does there exist anything more priceless than our health – both physical and mental?

A lot of activity we indulge in, both legal and illegal, centres around the acquisition of wealth and power. But what good will all the gold bullion on the planet do if we are constantly dogged by ill health or contract a debilitating disease? Or even worse… Common sense, therefore, dictates that we should do all in our power to safeguard this precious gift – everywhere and at all times. But this part of the human intellect often has an irritating way of being anything but common!

Nowhere is this more evident than at the workplace, where most of us spend an average of a third of our existence earning our daily bread. And let’s not forget there are people who think nothing of working 60- to 70-hour weeks, often and insanely finishing off a gruelling day at the office by typing away at their home computer or laptop – desperately attempting to meet a deadline – with a sandwich stuffed in their mouth and that pest of a mobile phone welded to their ear.

The statistics

When we start delving into the annals of occupational health and safety case studies of accidents, we are rendered speechless at the horror stories, having as their common denominator the same depressing lack of common sense and a culture of safety-mindedness, which can result in death and serious injury.

Yet these tragedies are often preventable! This is perhaps the real tragedy – the revelation that, with a bit of forethought and attention, the worker involved would have been able to return home to his wife and children at the end of the day.

Shifting our attention overseas, one American worker dies every eight minutes from an industrial accident and injuries to US workers each year have the same economic impact as if the nation’s entire industrial community were to shut down for one full week, according to the National Safety Council of the US.

Now if this is the world’s superpower that we’re talking about here, one wonders what goes on at workplaces in the continents of Africa and Asia! Not forgetting, by the way, that, worldwide, not all accidents are reported.

Three sides to the argument in favour of OHS

Unfortunately, many people still need the long arm of the law to make them see reason. Others will only entertain the subject provided there’s enough money left over at the end of the financial year. And you still often hear things like: “The company has got better things to do with its money!” Furthermore, it is often the case that action is taken after the accident has claimed another victim for eventual metamorphosis into a cold statistic.

There simply are no excuses. Propping up the argument in favour of drawing up a sound Health and Safety Policy for a workplace are the following three sturdy pillars:

There are people who think nothing of working 60- to 70-hour weeks, often and insanely finishing off a gruelling day at the office by typing away at their home computer – desperately attempting to meet a deadline – with a sandwich stuffed in their mouth and that pest of a mobile phone welded to their ear

Legal

EU occupational health and safety legislation says it loud and clear – the employer is bound to ensure the health and safety at all times of all persons affected by the work being carried out for him/her. The employee also has obligations – to safeguard his/her own safety and that of other persons, who can be affected by such work, as well as cooperating with the employer in all matters relating to health and safety.

Financial

Any accident or incidence of ill health will cause both direct and indirect costs and incur an insured and uninsured cost. In a study undertaken by the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE), it was shown that these indirect costs could be up to 36 times greater than the accident’s direct ones. In other words, the direct costs of an accident or disease represent the tip of the iceberg when compared to the overall ones.

Insurance will cover injury and damage, but it probably won’t cover, among other liabilities:

• legal fees

• production delays

• temporary labour/overtime

• lost orders

• a detrimental effect on staff motivation, especially if accidents and incidents are a regular occurrence

• the tarnishing of a good reputation.

Finally, we must also bear in mind that occupational hazards can have harmful effects on other people in the community, as well as on the physical environment around the workplace. Does anyone recall Bhopal, India?

Moral

Going back to those statistics again, it is all too easy to forget that behind every figure lies a human being and, in the great majority of cases, wives, children and other loved ones whose relatively tranquil lives were transformed into the stuff of nightmares in just a few seconds. Will a huge financial settlement or the most generous insurance policy in the world bring back the dead?

The office

There’s a good chance that you’ve found a few minutes to read this brief article in the comfort of your office (or study) during a quick break. You might be tempted to think that they’ve been wasted: “This is meant for places like oil rigs, shipyards, construction sites and factories! I mean, I’m in an office (or my own home) – the safest of places!” You could be wrong you know. Have you ever given serious thought to the following aspects of your workplace environment?

• Can you reach a place of safety in an emergency, such as a fire, for example? Are the escape routes clearly marked? Are there any suitable fire extinguishers around?

• The hazard of electricity? Are all appliances safe to operate in this respect?

• Is this office of yours suitably ventilated? When was the last time a competent person serviced your air-conditioning unit and photocopier? Do you open the window[s] every once in a while to get a bit of fresh air in?

• Office ergonomics! In plain English: do you have an adjustable chair? Is your posture correct? Do you take regular breaks from hammering away at your PC keyboard? Are you always clinging to the mouse with the same hand? Do you realise that work-related upper limb disorders (WRULDs) are not just confined to factories, but that doctors and specialists are treating an ever increasing number of office workers?

• Paper shredders – are they switched off before emptying?

• Slippery floors and stairs?

• Are the stepladders sturdy and safe to use?

• How do you deal with stress?

• Is there a qualified first aider around? Do you have a first-aid box anywhere inside the building?

• Bullying?

• Sexual harassment?

• Is there anyone with whom you can unburden any problems that may be troubling you?

The above list is non-exhaustive by the way. There is even specific legislation that deals with display screen equipment (PCs, laptops and electronic notebooks are ubiquitous examples), while other laws lay down the rules regarding the employment of young persons (inexperienced, often naïve and ever eager to please their employer, sometimes at the expense of their health and safety) and maternity at work (the focus of attention being the unborn child).

Getting our house in order

Isn’t the home a workplace as well? Can anyone say that incapacitating injuries and fatalities never occur in the house or garage? Of course they do – and the chilling media reports are confirmation enough that accidents of a domestic nature are not as uncommon as we think.

Many of the aforementioned office hazards can also be found lurking around our own residence. But it needn’t take rocket science to reduce or even completely eliminate the risk presented by them. In fact, simple, practical, common-sense measures are usually more than enough.

Have you ever noticed how we often throw money down the drain on unnecessary items or rarely bat an eyelid at forking out tens of euros eating out regularly, yet never get round to buying a couple of suitable fire extinguishers and a first-aid kit?

No, I don’t think there is anything more priceless in this life than our health. Unfortunately, we all tend to take it for granted at times, both at the workplace and away from it – some of us more than others. We only have ourselves to blame if it is lost through our own complacency or utter negligence. Not much point in crying over spilt milk is there? For while it is true that we can learn much from our mistakes, that learning must not come about at the cost of a life.