Implementing Off-the-Job Safety

Programs

It is recommended that off-the-

job safety programs be localized and
delivered as a series of suggestions or
helpful hints, rather than as a series of
mandates. A localized approach is effective
for targeting issues relevant to employee’s
daily lives and information can be shared
through paycheck stuffers, emails, social
media or a company newsletter.

Off-the-job safety can also be incorporated into regular safety talks, staff meetings or trainings. Useful methods include sharing data and statistics, explaining how
off-the-job injuries affect the whole team, relating workplace safety to home and community safety, encouraging personal storytelling, and offering personal protective
equipment for free, at a lower cost, or on a sign-out basis (e.g. masks, goggles, gas detection equipment, bicycle helmets, fire equipment).

Off-The-Job Safety

Would you believe that more than one-half of the injuries suffered by workers occur off the job? Someone once said that your home is your castle. If this is true,
castles are very dangerous places.

Approximately 24,000 individuals are killed each year in home accidents--an average of about 65 deaths per day. The National Safety Council reports that about 3.6
million people are injured in home accidents, which means that one person in 60 was disabled for one or more days in a home accident. About 100,000 of these injuries resulted
in some permanent impairment.

With these statistics, it cannot be over emphasized that what you do away from your job is vitally important. At home, we become all
too familiar with our environment. Then, to our surprise, we have an accident and wonder why it didn't happen sooner. Falls and burns by gas or
electrical equipment lead the list.

In 1982, over 1,036,500 fires in homes claimed more than 5,000 lives and caused $6.4
billion dollars’ worth of damage. More than twice as many fires occurred in homes than in
any other occupancy put together, including restaurants, hotels, schools, manufacturing
plants, etc.

You're protected at work and in public places by fire codes and laws that require early warning devices (smoke
and heat detectors) and fire extinguishers. It is highly recommended that you obtain the appropriate fire protection
equipment for your home as

soon as possible. It is the cheapest form of life and fire insurance possible. Smoke detectors of an
approved type are a good investment to provide early warning of a fire in the home.
One half of home fire deaths occur in the 6
Good Housekeeping should be practiced throughout the home. Avoid using the basement, attic or utility percent of homes with no smoke alarms.
room for a dumping ground, especially for combustible materials. (NFPA Report)

The yard should be kept clear of broken glass, nail-studded boards, and other litter. Electric utensils or
tools should be properly grounded if they are not of the "double insulated" type and should always be disconnected when
not in use.
 You should always tag and identify your main gas and water valves and electrical cut-offs. Be sure that others in your family know where they are located and how
to cut the supply in the event of an emergency.

Make sure there are

no frayed cords Fuses or circuit breakers should be labeled to identify outlets and fixtures they protect. Good lighting should be available
for work areas, stairways, and in the bedrooms of children and elderly persons. Keep emergency phone numbers handy (utilities,
doctors, poison control, etc.).

Falls are the greatest killers in the home. Always have non-skid backing on small rugs and avoid using them at the top of stairs.

Use a step stool or utility ladder--never a chair or table--when reaching into high cupboards or shelves. Keep ladders in good condition by replacing loose rungs,
worn ladder shoes, and frayed ropes on extension ladders.

Replace cracked or frayed electrical appliance and extension cords.

Don't use aerosols near open flames or while smoking.

Keep firearms secure in a locked rack or cabinet and ammunition stored separately from the firearms.

Always use the right tool for the job and always get help from a neighbor or friend for heavy or difficult jobs.

Prepare and practice a family escape plan in case of a fire that might occur during the day or night. This plan should include two ways out of every area and a pre-
determined meeting place outside of the home.

Kitchen-Bathroom-Utility

Wipe up liquid spills immediately.

Turn hot handles away from the stove front so they don't tempt little children, but don't place them over another burner.

Keep in mind that water should never be poured on a grease fire.

Washers and dryers should be electrically grounded.

Always keep household cleaners, disinfectants, insecticides, drain openers, and medicines in their original labeled containers--separate from
food--and preferably locked up and out of reach of small children.
Don't stand on the
Read the label before taking any medicine. top of a ladder!

Keep emergency phone numbers like police, fire, doctors, utilities, handy by your telephone.

Garage-Workshop

Keep all tools properly guarded and out of reach of small children.

1|Page
Flammable paint thinners and solvents should be kept in metal cans. Their vapors will travel along the ground, so it is
important to keep them stored away from gas hot-water tanks, heaters, or other sources of ignition.

When operating a power mower, keep children and pets a safe distance away. Always shut off the mower and make sure the
blades are stopped before adjusting the blade or emptying the grass catcher.

Keep the garage door open while running the car engine inside to avoid asphyxiation.

Wear eye protection when

Motor-vehicle accidents are the #1 accidental killers of our children ages 5 and under. Using a child safety seat working with power tools.
is estimated to be 80 to 90 percent effective in preventing fatalities.

Safety as Related to Health Practices

INTRODUCTION

Health practices are voluntary activities affecting health, such as sleep, exercise and diet. In humans, health is the general condition of a person's mind and body, usually
meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain (as in "good health" or "healthy"). The World Health Organization (WHO) defined health in its broader sense in 1946 as "a state of
complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living organism.

TWO ASPECTS OF HEALTH

A. Physical health
Another term for physical health is physical well-being. Physical health relates to anything concerning our bodies as physical entities. Physical health is defined as
something a person can achieve by developing all health-related components of his/her lifestyle. Physical health means a good body health, which is healthy because of
regular physical activity (exercise), good nutrition, and adequate rest. Other contributors to physical wellbeing may include proper nutrition, bodyweight management,
abstaining from drug abuse, avoiding alcohol abuse, responsible sexual behavior (sexual health), hygiene, and getting the right amount of sleep. Fitness reflects a person's
cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, and body composition.

Some people divide physical health into two separate sections:

 Structural health
This refers to sound bones, muscles, organs etc. that the structures in the body are performing the functions they were made for properly. Structural health
is associated with a person's height/weight ratio, their BMI (body mass index), their resting pulse rate (heart rate), and recovery time after doing exercise.

 Chemical Health
Good chemical health means that the chemicals in the person's body are correct, that tissues contain the right balance of nutrients, etc., and there are no
toxic chemicals. We may inhale or swallow natural and synthetic chemicals; they can also get into our body through skin. In most cases, the body can break
these chemicals down or excrete them, so that there is no risk of toxic overload. Some chemicals can harm or destroy cells and tissues, while others may
affect genetic material directly, which can increase the risk of developing cancer.

B. Mental health
Mental health refers to people's cognitive and emotional well-being. According to WHO, mental health is "a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own
abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community". Mental health refers to
the absence of mental illness. Mental health includes the ability to enjoy life, the ability to bounce back from adversity, the ability to achieve balance (moderation), the
ability to be flexible and adapt, the ability to feel safe and secure, and self-actualization (making the best of what you have).

MAIN DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH

The health of individual people and their communities are affected by a wide range of contributory factors. People's good or bad health is determined by their environment and
situations - what is happening and what has happened to them, says WHO.

2|Page
 WHO says the main determinants to health are:

A. The social and economic environment (Our economy and society)

The higher a person's socioeconomic status is, the more likely he/she is to enjoy good health. The link is a clear one. Socioeconomic status affects all members of the
family, including newborn babies. Australian researchers found that women of lower socioeconomic status are less likely to breastfeed their newborn babies - a factor
which will have an impact on the health of the baby just as he/she enters the world. A South Korean study revealed a clear link between low socioeconomic status and
heart attack and stroke risk.

B. The physical environment (Where we live, what is physically around us)

If your water is clean and safe, the air you breathe is pure, your workplace is healthy, your house is comfortable and safe, you are more likely to enjoy good health
compared to somebody whose water supply is not clean and safe, the air he/she breathes is contaminated, the workplace is unhealthy, etc. A study carried out by
researchers at Zuyd University, The Netherlands, found that just an hour of sniffing car exhaust fumes induces a stress response in the brain's activity. Another study
carried out at Indiana University-Purdue University found that chronic lead poisoning, caused in part by the ingestion of contaminated dirt, affects hundreds of thousands
more children in the United States than the acute lead poisoning associated with imported toys or jewelry.

C. The person's individual characteristics and behaviors (What we are and what we do)
People's longevity, general health, and propensity to certain diseases are partly determined by their genetic makeup. Researchers from Vrije University, Holland, the
Medical College of Georgia, USA, and Duke University, USA showed that people's genes play a key role in how they respond both biologically and psychologically to stress in
their environment.

Men and women are susceptible to some different diseases, conditions and physical experiences, which play a role in our general health.
For example, childbirth, ovarian cancer, and cervical cancer, are experienced only by women, while prostate cancer, testicular cancer are only experienced by men.

What we eat, our physical activity, whether or not we smoke or drink or take drugs, and how we cope with stress play an important role on our physical and mental well-being.

SELF-CARE STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

In terms of health maintenance, self-care is any activity of an individual, family or community, with the intention of improving or restoring health, or treating or preventing
disease. Self-care refers to actions and attitudes which contribute to the maintenance of well-being and personal health and promote human development. A holistic health
approach is common to self-care which is concerned with complete system of the body rather than with individual aspects of the body.

We can't control what life gives us, but we can try to manage how we respond to life’s stressors by how well we take care of ourselves. Practicing self-care strategies can help
us improve our ability to function well and better manage the stress that comes our way. The activities and exercises listed below are aimed at maintaining your physical health,
decreasing stress, increasing relaxation and equanimity, and managing some challenging emotional situations.

A. Get adequate sleep

Getting enough sleep is a vital part of functioning at our best. Human body need 8-9 hours of sleep in order to function optimally. For optimum sleep, try to keep to a
regular sleep schedule, avoid caffeine and other substances before bed, and create a quiet, peaceful sleep space.

B. Maintain good nutrition

Poor nutrition can actually make us more vulnerable to stress. Having good nutrition keeps us functioning at our best. Balanced diet means getting the right amount
and composition of foods and beverages according to your condition. Different people might need different amount and composition of foods. For a standard, a healthy adult
usually need 2000 calorie per day. If you work harder than average person, you need more calorie. Basically, our need of food can be represented as the following pyramid:

3|Page
 Top shelf foods are high in sugar, fat and sale are not essential in health and taken in excess can be harmful. Fats and oils are essential but only in small amounts. The
foods and drinks on the bottom shelves of the food pyramid are essential for good health.

C. Exercise regularly

Exercise can be great for us both physically and mentally. Research shows that 20-30 minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week can help the body produce
endorphins, chemicals in our bodies that neutralize stress hormones, and increase our sense of well-being. Find an activity that you enjoy and you will come to really
appreciate the benefits of regular exercise.

D. Be mindful of substance use

People tend to experiment with substances. Substances, like tobacco and alcohol, can be used for relaxation and celebration. If substance use is interfering with
your functioning or in reaching your goals, seek support to find more healthy ways to manage.

4|Page
E. Develop supportive relationships

Having supportive and caring people in our lives can help us feel connected to others and less isolated. Good friends can help us when we are sad, provide insight when we
need help, or have fun with us when we need to blow off steam. Being a good friend to others can also help us feel good about ourselves.

F. Accept who we are

Being realistic about what we do well and what we don’t lets us use our energy to make the most of our strengths. When we like who we are and value ourselves (i.e.
have good self-esteem), this helps us to feel positive about our interactions with others. We can practice this by being kind and compassionate with ourselves and learning
to listen and trust our instincts and feelings.

G. Practice good communication

Being a good communicator is something that all of us can learn. When we assert ourselves effectively, this can help us to let others know us more thoroughly, and
can help us set good boundaries and limits.

H. Practice positive thinking

By learning to think more positively, we can move through negative experiences more quickly and effectively. Being mindful of how our thoughts affect our behavior
and feelings. Negative thinking can initiate a stress response, such as increased anxiety and worry, or physical problems like headaches.

I. Practice setting realistic goals

When we set goals for ourselves, it helps us to achieve what we hope to achieve and move forward in a positive way. This includes developing a practice of
prioritizing, planning, and approaching tasks strategically so that we can keep life’s demands from becoming overwhelming.

5|Page
J. Find time for relaxation and play

This can help balance our lives in positive and fulfilling ways.
Children understand the importance of relaxation and play better than adults. Somewhere along the line, we forget about this vital part of life. We need to continue to find
ways to nurture ourselves through play and relaxation.

6|Page