S&E MOMENT

Good morning and welcome to the S&E Moment. We begin an episode on Key Stakeholders or Institutions under the “Institutional Framework on Safety and Environment in Ghana”.

“Institutional Framework” consist of the laws, regulations, procedures, stakeholders or institutions together with their roles and responsibilities that the Government uses to manage safety and environment in Ghana. So what are these laws, regulations, procedures, systems, institutions together with their responsibilities for safety and environmental management or protection in Ghana?

Please listen to the S&E Moment for the next couple of days as we discuss the key stakeholders or institutions responsible for Safety & Environmental management in Ghana.

• Always wear nose/face mask
• Wash your hands with soap under running water
• Keep the social distance of 2 meters between the next person and yourself
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers
• Avoid touching your face with your hands as much as possible
• Avoid shaking hands

Visit the Ghana Health Service COVID-19 website for further information. Let us all help to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

You know what to do if you want to contact us: 0800-299-299 or 0303 302512 or 0207 319 653. info@seefgh.org or www.seefgh.org

Have a lovely day, bye.

Good morning and welcome to another edition of S&E Moment.

We are continuing our discussion on key stakeholders or institutions under the Institutional framework on Safety and Environment in Ghana. Today, we are looking at the institution responsible for health and safety in Ghana. Have you heard of the Department of Factories Inspectorate? DFI?

The Department of Factories Inspectorate (DFI) which is under the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations is the Government department/institution responsible for Health and Safety issues in Ghana. The Department has offices in all regional capitals across the country, i.e. Accra, Tema, Kumasi, Takoradi, Koforidua, Tamale and so on.

DFI has the mandate to ensure that employers institute appropriate health and safety systems to assure the health and safety of their workers. These include training and capacity building, provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), good welfare facilities and so on. The mandate of DFI includes ensuring that dangerous occurrences or fatal accidents at workplaces are reported to the DFI within 24 hours of their occurrence?

If you are a business owner, please find time and visit the office of DFI in your region to regularize your operation with the department.

Please remember to follow the COVID-19 Protocols at all times. Visit the Ghana Health Service COVID-19 website for further information.

You know what to do if you want to contact us: 0800-299-299 or 0303 302512 or 0207 319 653. info@seefgh.org or www.seefgh.org

Have a lovely day, bye.

Good morning and welcome to the S&E Moment.

We are continuing our discussion on key stakeholders or institutions under the Institutional Framework on Safety and Environment in Ghana. Today, we are discussing the government institution responsible for environmental protection or management in Ghana.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which is under the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation is responsible for regulating and coordinating activities on the environment in Ghana. EPA has regional and district offices across the country.

One of the ways EPA regulates activities on the environment is to ensure that all undertakings or projects are submitted to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or as it is commonly referred to as Environmental & Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) to identify potential negative impacts including instituting appropriate mitigation measures to minimize if not to completely eliminate the identified impacts. In the end, where an undertaking or project satisfies the EIA requirements then an Environmental Permit is issued to the proponent by EPA to allow the undertaking to proceed.

Please know that it is an offence under the environment laws and regulations to commence work on any undertaking that has the potential to cause pollution to the environment without consulting EPA. We shall discuss these laws in detail in subsequent episodes.

Do not forget to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols to stay safe. Visit the Ghana Health Service COVID-19 website for further information.

You know what to do if you want to contact us: 0800-299-299 or 0303 302512 or 0207 319 653. info@seefgh.org or www.seefgh.org

Have a great day, bye.

Hello! Hello! Hello! Good morning and welcome to the S&E Moment.

We have earlier discussed Department of Factories Inspectorate (DFI) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the government agencies or institutions responsible for Safety and Environment respectively.

Today, let us look at the list of other key stakeholders or institutions whose activities or operations border on safety and environment, and therefore complement the work of DFI and EPA in several ways. They include:

• National Labour Department (Under the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations)
• Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS)
• Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs)
• Ministry of Land and Natural Resources
• Ghana Standard Authority
• Food and Drugs Authority
• Inspectorate Division of Minerals Commission and a host of other agencies or institutions

The important thing to note is that, the listed agencies or institutions plus others that are not mentioned in this S&E Moment have responsibilities or perform roles that complement the work of DFI and EPA.

We shall discuss the duties of Ghana National Fire Service and MMDAs with respect to safety and environmental management in the next S&E Moment.

Remember to observe the COVID-19 Protocols – regularly wash your hands with soap under running water, always wear nose/face mask, keep a social distance of 2 meters between you and the next person, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers at all times, avoid touching your face as much as possible, and visit the Ghana Health Service COVID-19 website for further information on how to prevent contracting and stopping the spread of COVID-19. Visit the Ghana Health Service COVID-19 website for further information.

If you want to contact us: Toll Free 0800 299 299 Landline 0303 302512 Mobile number 0207 319 653 if you want to send a text message or WhatsApp to ask a question or share an experience. info@seefgh.org www.seefgh.org

Have a lovely day, bye.

Good morning and welcome to the S&E Moment. Today we are discussing the role of Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) as a complementary Institution/Service to the work of DFI and EPA.

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) which is under the Ministry of Interior is the government agency responsible for preventing and managing undesired fires. Similar to DFI and EPA, GNFS has regional and district offices across the country.

The Service works closely with DFI and EPA in executing its mandate of preventing and managing undesired fires which includes:

• Organizing programs to create and sustain awareness on fire hazards
• Providing technical advice for building plans with respect to layouts that will facilitate escape from fire rescue operations
• Organizing and training of fire volunteers at the community level
• Offering rescue and evacuation services to those trapped by fire and other emergency situations among other mandates.

Other duties of the Service include ensuring that, all workplaces have in place appropriate fire protection measures as well as Fire Certificates covering their facilities. Businesses are advised not regard this as mere legal compliance, but a measure or means to proactively instituting measures to safeguard their facilities and properties against fire. Please visit a fire service station near you for further information on fire requirements.

In executing these mandates, the Service ensures that businesses institute the right fire safety measures and also apply for Fire Permits Certificates for their buildings.

Remember to stay safe from COVID-19, and also visit the Ghana Health Service COVID-19 website for further information.

You know what to do if you want to contact us: Toll Free 0800 299 299 Landline 0303 302 512 Mobile number 0207 319 653 if you want to send a text message or WhatsApp to ask a question or share an experience. info@seefgh.org www.seefgh.org

Have a great day, bye.

Good morning and welcome to the S&E Moment. We are concluding our episode on key stakeholders under the Institutional Framework on Safety and Environmental management in Ghana by looking at the role of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

The MMDAs are under the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. Responsibility of MMDAs as stakeholders of the Institutional Framework on Safety and Environment in Ghana relate to Environmental Sanitation which includes waste management, public health management, environmental monitoring, provision of works related to environmental sanitation facilities, planning, monitoring and public relation. It is worthwhile to note that, Waste Management in our cities and towns is the responsibility of MMDAs and not EPA even though EPA provides technical support/assistance to the MMDAs on waste management.

I hope with this concluding section, you now know the key stakeholders under the Institutional Framework of Safety Environment in Ghana. To recap, they are :

• The Department of Factories Inspectorate (DFI) which is under the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which is under the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation
• The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) which is under the Ministry of Interior
• Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) under the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development
• And a host of other collaborating agencies/institutions.

Do not forget that, we are not completely out of the Coronavirus Pandemic so it is important for you to adhere to the Protocols at all times. Also visit the Ghana Health Service COVID-19 website for further information.

You can contact us through: Toll Free 0800 299 299 Landline 0303 302 512 Mobile number 0207 319 653 if you want to send a text message or WhatsApp to ask a question or share an experience. info@seefgh.org www.seefgh.org

Have a lovely day, bye.

Cherished listeners, good morning and welcome to the S&E Moment.
Today, we begin a new episode on “Basic Terminologies used in Health & Safety Management". We start off by looking at the term “Safety”.

Safety is defined as freedom from accidents or the condition of being free from pain, injury or loss. It can also be defined as the control of accidental loss. So, an intervention or a combination of interventions that individually or collectively work together to ensure that, one does not sustain an injury or loss is what is termed “Safety”.

The scope of the S&E Moment covers 2 types/aspects of Safety. These are:

• Occupational Health and Safety; and
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which is under the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation
• Public Safety

We shall explain and differentiate between these in our subsequent S&E Moments.

Safety is a condition and a right every Ghanaian is entitled to as it is enshrined in the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
The State, employers, employees, individuals, parents all have roles to play in ensuring safety of the citizenry. Safety is a shared responsibility not one person’s responsibility so please make it a point and a habit to do your part.

Do not forget that, we are not completely out of the Coronavirus Pandemic so it is important for you to adhere to the Protocols at all times. Also visit the Ghana Health Service COVID-19 website for further information.

You know what to do if you want to contact us: Toll Free 0800 299 299 Landline 0303 302 512 Mobile number 0207 319 653 if you want to send a text message or WhatsApp to ask a question or share an experience. info@seefgh.org www.seefgh.org

Have a safe day, bye.

Good morning and welcome to the S&E Moment. We are continuing our episode on Terminologies used in health and Safety Management.
Today, we shall explain and distinguish between Occupational Health and Safety & Public Health & Safety.

Occupation is your profession or simply the work you do. Occupational Health and Safety is, therefore, the Health and Safety risks associated with your occupation. These risks are often specific and unique to your occupation. The health and safety risks of a driver who sits behind the wheels all day driving is different from a welder welding in a fitting shop. Similarly, the health and safety risks of a scaffolder at a construction site are different from a footballer who plays football on a field. So, the moment you hear Occupational Health and Safety, please know that we are talking about work related health and safety risks.

Public Health and Safety on the other hand tends to affect the general public irrespective of your occupation or job. Road Safety is an example of a public safety issue. Another example is the Coronavirus Pandemic which is a public health issue and you could contract it whether you are doctor, teacher, farmer, painter, pilot, journalist etc.

I hope you now know the distinction between Occupational Health and Safety & Public Health & Safety.

Now that you know that the Coronavirus Pandemic is a public health issue:

• Always wear nose/face masks
• Wash your hands with soap under running water
• Keep the social distance of 2 meters between yourself and the next person even as you exercise with your family or friends
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers at all times particularly after handling money
• Avoid touching your face with your hands as much as possible
• Avoid hand shakes

Please visit the Ghana Health Service COVID-19 website for further information and updates on ways to prevent the spread of the disease.

You know what to do if you want to contact us: Toll Free 0800 299 299 Landline 0303 302 512 Mobile number 0207 319 653 if you want to send a text message or WhatsApp to ask a question or share an experience. info@seefgh.org www.seefgh.org

Enjoy a blessed day and remain safe, bye.

Good morning and welcome to the S&E Moment.
Today, we are looking at the term “Hazard” as used in Health and Safety Management.

It is almost impossible for anyone to talk about safety without mentioning the word “Hazard”. So, what is a “Hazard"?

A hazard is something (i.e. situation or condition) that has the potential to cause accident, harm, injury or loss. Hazards exist everywhere, i.e. in our offices, in our homes, on public roads etc. and apply to both occupational health and safety and public health and safety. However, hazards tend to be specific or unique to your occupation or the job you do. A scaffolder at a construction site may be exposed to the hazard of “Fall from Height” while a driver behind the wheels is not. A cook in a kitchen may be exposed to fire hazard from gas stove whiles a teacher teaching in a classroom is not.

Know that objects such as cutlasses, knifes, electric cables and even vehicles are themselves hazards because they can cause accident, harm or injury if they are mishandled.

Even the long wedding gown of a bride could be a hazard because the bride can step on it, trip and fall if not controlled.

The skill and experience in identifying hazard is the first step in preventing accidents or injuries. An experience was shared by a safety professional of a pregnant lady who tripped on an extension cords in her office, hit her stomach against a table and was rushed to the hospital, but died as a result, all because of a hazard that was not eliminated or controlled.

Please take a moment to assess or identify hazards in your environment, i.e. in your office, at home, warehouse, car etc. and make a list of them and outline measures to eliminate such hazards.

Please visit the Ghana Health Service COVID-19 website for further information and updates on ways to prevent the spread of the disease.

Please share your experience with us: Toll Free 0800 299 299 Landline 0303 302 512 Mobile number 0207 319 653 if you want to send a text message or WhatsApp to ask a question or share an experience. info@seefgh.org www.seefgh.org

Have a lovely day, bye.

Good morning and welcome to the S&E Moment.
Today, we shall discuss the term “Risk”.

A risk is the chance, (high, medium or low) that people or the environment will be harmed by a hazard.
It is easy to confuse the terms – hazard and risk. The difference is that, hazard describes the potential to cause harm and ‘risk’ is the likelihood or probability that an accident or incident would occur from a particular hazard.

For instance, the risk (i.e. likelihood) of being involved in a vehicle accident is high when you drink and drive.

Remember, the higher the risk the higher the danger involved. Frontline health workers have been tagged as being at a higher risk of coming into contact with the Coronavirus due to the likelihood of their exposure.
Risk = Probability * Severity (Probability in combination with severity).

COVID 19 poses a threat to health and life, the higher you adhere to the outlined precautionary measures, the lesser the risk of contracting or spreading the disease. Don’t put yourself and others at a higher risk.

Together, we can reduce the risk and win the battle.

Please visit the Ghana Health Service COVID-19 website for further information and updates on ways to prevent the spread of the disease.

Please share your experience with us: Toll Free 0800 299 299 Landline 0303 302 512 Mobile number 0207 319 653 if you want to send a text message or WhatsApp to ask a question or share an experience. info@seefgh.org www.seefgh.org

Have a nice day, bye.

Good morning and welcome to the S&E Moment.
Today, we would be looking at the term Accident.

An accident is an unwanted or unplanned event that results in physical harm to people, damage to property, loss or damages to the environment. A man in a hurry to rush off to work from his home crushed his toddler baby boy in the process of reversing in a haste to work. Little did he know that his toddler baby was playing right behind the right side back tyre of his car. If he had taken his time to conduct a 360 check around his car before moving, the life of his child would have been spared. He never planned crushing his own son.
It was an accident.

Remember, accidents don’t just happen, they are caused. Observe safety rules and regulations, avoid taking shortcuts, do the right thing. Take safety precautions seriously and obey them dutifully.
COVID 19 is an unwanted event, don’t allow yourself to be its next accident victim, take care, and take control.

Join me on the next segment as we take a look at the term “Near Miss”.

Please visit the Ghana Health Service COVID-19 website for further information and updates on ways to prevent the spread of the disease.

Please share your experience with us: Toll Free 0800 299 299 Landline 0303 302 512 Mobile number 0207 319 653 if you want to send a text message or WhatsApp to ask a question or share an experience. info@seefgh.org www.seefgh.org

Safety is priceless, be safe, bye.

Good morning and welcome to the S&E Moment.
Today we would be looking at Near Misses.

A near miss is an undesired event, which under slightly different circumstances, could have resulted in harm to people, damage to property, loss or damage to the environment. It is also referred to as a “close call”.

A friend of mine recounted a story of how he nearly knocked down a middle-aged woman who was jogging by the roadside at dawn dressed in a dark outfit. All he said was Richmond I nearly knocked her. That was a near miss or a close call. If the woman was dressed in a reflective dress, he would have easily noticed her on the road.

Near misses if left unattended to, results in serious accidents. Frank Bird’s Accident triangle says that, ‘in every 600 near misses there is one serious accident.”

Take the COVID 19 protocols serious, obey and personally enforce them, don’t wait for someone to police you into adhering to the protocols. Don’t take near misses lightly, don’t take chances, never gamble with your life. Please visit the Ghana Health Service COVID-19 website for further information and updates on ways to prevent the spread of the disease.

Please share your experience with us: Toll Free 0800 299 299 Landline 0303 302 512 Mobile number 0207 319 653 if you want to send a text message or WhatsApp to ask a question or share an experience. info@seefgh.org www.seefgh.org

Have a great day, bye.

Cherished listeners, good morning and welcome to the S& Moment.
Today, we begin a new episode on “Terminologies used in Environmental Management”. We start off by looking at the term “Environment”.

The Environment is generally defined as our surroundings. For the purpose of this S&E Moment, we shall explain and distinguish between the “Natural Environment” and “Built Environment”.

The Natural Environment, also generally referred to as the “Environment” consist of the air, land and water that support human, plants and animals that live on earth. Activities that affect or impact on air, land and water are what Environmental Management Professionals are concerned about. What is your occupation? or What business are you engaged in? Take a moment to think about how your activities or operations affect or impact on air, land and water.

Please visit the Ghana Health Service COVID-19 website for further information and updates on ways to prevent the spread of the disease.

Share your experience with us when you are done. Toll Free 0800 299 299 Landline 0303 302 512 Mobile number 0207 319 653 if you want to send a text message or WhatsApp to ask a question or share an experience. info@seefgh.org www.seefgh.org

Have a lovely day, bye.

Good morning and welcome to the S&E Moment. We are continuing our episode on Terminologies used in Environmental Management. In our previous S&E Moment, we looked at the National Environment, and today, we are discussing Built Environment.

The “Built Environment” is sometimes referred to as “Man-Made Environment”. Man-made environment because it encompasses the places and spaces created and modified by man, and includes buildings, parks, transportation systems and so on. It is important to note that Built Environment is part of the natural environment, and can be described as subset of the natural environment against the background that man has created built environment on land which is part of the natural environment.

Are you a Civil Engineer, Urban Planner, Architect, Contractor, etc. involved in designing of civil infrastructure? Please take a moment today as part of your S&E Moment to assess and evaluate potential impacts of your designs on the natural environment and modify your designs to be friendly to the environment.

Please visit the Ghana Health Service COVID-19 website for further information and updates on ways to prevent the spread of the disease.

Share your findings with us: Toll Free 0800 299 299 Landline 0303 302 512 Mobile number 0207 319 653 if you want to send a text message or WhatsApp to ask a question or share an experience. info@seefgh.org www.seefgh.org

Have a nice day, bye.

Good morning and welcome to the S&E Moment. We have discussed Natural Environment and Built Environment in the previous S&E Moments under the episode on Terminologies Used in Environmental Management. Today, we are discussing “Environmental Aspect”.

“Environmental Aspect” is that part of your activity or operation that can interact with the environment to cause pollution, and remember we have earlier explained environment to mean air, land and water. Environmental Aspect can either be an input or output from your operations. In order words, environmental aspects can be input such as raw materials such as diesel, oil, paper, toner etc. that you use in your operations. It can also be an output or by-product such as waste oil, solid waste, liquid waste etc. that comes out of your operations.

The first step in environmental management is being able to effectively identify or assess aspects associated with your activities or operations. Often times, office or administrative staff think that their work or activities do not affect the environment. However, they forget that waste toner and waste paper for example are aspects associated with their work and can interact with the environment to cause pollution. It is important that we all know or understand the environmental aspects associated with our activities or operations so we institute measures to prevent pollution from such aspects.

Brainstorm and outline the Environmental Aspects associated with your work and discuss with the Health and Safety and environment professional at your workplace.

Please visit the Ghana Health Service COVID-19 website for further information and updates on ways to prevent the spread of the disease.

Feel free to share your aspects with us. Toll Free 0800 299 299 Landline 0303 302 512 Mobile number 0207 319 653 if you want to send a text message or WhatsApp to ask a question or share an experience. info@seefgh.org www.seefgh.org

Have a nice day, bye.

Good morning and welcome to the S&E Moment. We are continuing our episode on Terminologies used in Environmental Management, and today we are discussing Environmental Pollution/Damage. It should be easy to define or understand Environmental Pollution right now you know and understand the natural and the built environment together with environmental aspects.

Environmental Pollution is concerned with the resultant damage to the environment as a result of interaction between environmental aspects and the environment (i.e. land, water and air). Pollution can be caused to any or all the environmental media – air, land and water from our activities or operation. Know that whether you operate as a business, private business person or as an individual in your home your activities can cause pollution to the environment if you do not make efforts to manage or control your environmental aspects. It is also important to know that both your core activities or operations as well as ancillary activities can cause pollution to the environment.

The best practice is to map-up your activities by preparing a flow chart of operational activities and them identifying aspects and the resultant pollution that can result from the aspect which could be to either air, land and water or all 3 environmental media.

Take a moment to map-up your operations in the form of a flow chart, identify aspects associated with each stage of the process and then predict the resultant pollution that can results from the aspect.

Please visit the Ghana Health Service COVID-19 website for further information and updates on ways to prevent the spread of the disease.

We will love to hear from you on this exercise: Toll Free 0800 299 299 Landline 0303 302 512 Mobile number 0207 319 653 if you want to send a text message or WhatsApp to ask a question or share an experience. info@seefgh.org www.seefgh.org

Have a lovely day, bye.

Good morning and welcome to the S&E Moment. We are continuing our episode on Terminologies used in Environmental Management, and today we are discussing Environmental Impact. It should be easy to define or understand Environmental Impact right now you understand natural environment, built environment, environmental aspects, environmental pollution.

Environmental Impact is synonymous to environmental pollution, and it is concerned with the resultant damage to the environment as a result of interaction between environmental aspects and the environment, i.e. air, land and water.

“Environmental Impact” is used in assessing the degree of damage/pollution to the environment used to define, assess and quantify the type, scale and magnitude of damage/pollution to the environment. We often hear Environment Professionals using statements such as “Direct Impacts”, “Indirect Impacts”, “Cumulative Impacts”, “Localised Impacts”, “National Impacts”, “Global Impacts”, “Limited Impacts”, “Wide-Ranging Impacts” “High Impacts”, “Medium Impacts”, “Low Impacts” etc. to describe the type, scale and magnitude of the impact to the environment.

The tool Environment Professionals normally use to assess the magnitude of impacts is the Livelihood and Severity Matrix. Try your hands on this, but you may need some guidance or coaching to be able to effectively use the Likelihood and Severity Matrix to assess and predict the magnitude of impacts from your activities if you are not an environmental management professional.

Please visit the Ghana Health Service COVID-19 website for further information and updates on ways to prevent the spread of the disease.

Let us know you progress with this exercise: Toll Free 0800 299 299 Landline 0303 302 512 Mobile number 0207 319 653 if you want to send a text message or WhatsApp to ask a question or share an experience. info@seefgh.org www.seefgh.org

Have a lovely day, bye.

Good morning and welcome to the S&E Moment.
In the next couple of the S&E Moments we will be discussing “Safety Tips for Exercising along Public Roads”.

There is a growing awareness of staying or keeping fit by both the young and old in recent times and physical exercise is proven to be one of the ways of staying or keeping fit. It is not uncommon to see the young and old exercising in the form of brisk walking or jogging along public roads both in daytime and nighttime hours.

In this episode of the S&E Moment, we will be discussing 2 of the key potential hazards that people who exercise along public roads are exposed to. These are:

1. Knockdowns by motorists (vehicles, bicycles or motor riders)
2. Attacks by robbers

The risks associated with these 2 hazards depend on a number of factors, and includes:

• Time of the day, i.e. day or night
• Weather conditions among other risk factors

We will discuss these 2 hazards and their corresponding risk factors in detail in subsequent S&E Moments so please make it a point to listen to the S&E Moment from now onwards.

While you ponder over this as we continue tomorrow,

• Always wear nose/face masks
• Wash your hands with soap under running water
• Keep the social distance of 2 meters between yourself and the next person even as you exercise with your family or friends
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers at all times particularly after handling money
• Avoid touching your face with your hands as much as possible
• Avoid hand shakes

Please visit the Ghana Health Service COVID-19 website for further information and updates on ways to prevent the spread of the disease.

You know what to do if you want to contact us: Toll Free 0800 299 299 Landline 0303 302 512 Mobile number 0207 319 653 if you want to send a text message or WhatsApp to ask a question or share an experience. info@seefgh.org www.seefgh.org

Have a lovely day, bye.

Good morning and welcome to the S&E Moment.

We are continuing our discussion on “Safety Tips for Exercising along Public Roads”. Today, we are discussing the hazard of Knockdowns by vehicles, bicycles or motor riders and the risks associated with it. We shall also look at ways to stay safe from the hazard to help prevent accident or injuring yourself.

Be aware that if you exercise along public roads either during daytime or nighttime hours you are exposed to the hazard of being knockdown by motorists. The risk of knockdown is high if you exercise during nighttime hours than during daytime hours, if you exercise too close to the road, if you exercise when it is raining, if you wear dark clothing than bright or reflective clothing among other risks factors. Mr. Kwadwo Asah, a co-founder and one of the Directors of SEEF and MBA shared an experience with me on how he nearly knocked down an elderly woman with his vehicle in the early hours of one morning at about 4:30am when he was travelling outside Accra. This is because the woman was wearing dark clothing and he could not see her.

We shall discuss ways to stay safe from knockdowns by motorists when exercising along public roads in our next S&E Moment.

Remember to always follow all the COVID-19 protocols and also visit the Ghana Health Service COVID-19 website for further information and updates on how to stay safe from the disease.

Let us know your progress with this exercise: Toll Free 0800 299 299 Landline 0303 302 512 Mobile number 0207 319 653 if you want to send a text message or WhatsApp to ask a question or share an experience. info@seefgh.org www.seefgh.org

Have a nice day, bye.

Hello! Hello! lovely people, good morning and welcome to the S&E Moment.

In the previous S&E Moment, we looked at the hazard of being knocked down by motorist when exercising along public roads including factors that could increase the risk of knockdowns. Today, let us look at ways to ensure that you eliminate or reduce the risk of being knockdown when exercising along public roads.

These include, but not limited to:

1. Staying alert and mindful of motorists at all times during the period you are exercising along public roads
2. Keeping a safe distance from motorists. In order words, you are advised not to walk or jog too close to the road, but use the shoulder of the road and further away from the edges of the road
3. Desist from wearing dark clothing, but rather wear High Visibility Clothing that will allow motorists to easily identify or see you particularly during dark hours of the day when visibility is poor. This might include wearing high visibility vests on your cloths or better still wearing white or yellow clothing that will improve your visibility by motorists
4. Always exercise along the side of on-coming vehicles, i.e. keeping to the left side of the road at all times
5. Avoid exercising in extreme weather conditions such as when it is raining as road surfaces become slippery making motorists more likely to veer off the road towards you

You can read more about safety tips when exercising along public roads on the internet to add to the tips provided in the S&E Moment. You can also obtain additional tips from your Health and Safety Professional.

Do not forget to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols to stay safe. Visit the Ghana Health Service COVID-19 website for further information and updates on how to stay safe from the virus or the disease.

Let us know your progress with this exercise: Toll Free 0800 299 299 Landline 0303 302 512 Mobile number 0207 319 653 if you want to send a text message or WhatsApp to ask a question or share an experience. info@seefgh.org www.seefgh.org

Have a great day, bye.

Hello! Hello! Hello! good morning and welcome to the S&E Moment.

We are continuing our discussion on Safety Tips for Exercising along Public Roads”. Today, we are discussing the hazard of being attacked by robbers and measures to stay safe from robbers.

It is common to see more people exercising along public roads at nighttime hours, i.e. early dawn and mornings because the weather is cool and refreshing around such times. However, the risk of being attacked by robbers is high during these hours of the day particularly early dawn as it is dark and there are often no or few people on the street or road, thus helping to promote activities of robbers. These robbers will normally ask for money or other valuables such as mobile phones, and if you are not lucky, they might hurt you if you do not have anything on you.

To avoid being attacked by robbers when exercising along public roads, please observe the following precautionary measures among other measures not mentioned in this S&E Moment:

• Avoid exercising on public roads if you can. You can exercise in house if that is possible.
• Do not set-off too early at dawn to exercise as the risk of being attacked by robbers is high during this time.
• Use a “buddy system”. That is, do not go alone, but move in pairs or more.
• Do not keep valuable items on you when exercising. Keep your phones, money etc. at home.
• Form communal exercise groups, and schedule exercise days.

We hope you have found these tips useful. Visit SEEF website for a copy of this S&E Moment. You can also read more about how to stay safe from robbers when exercising along public roads on the internet or talk to your Health and Safety Professional for more advice.

COVID-19 is still with us. Please do well to observe all the Protocols and also visit the Ghana Health Service COVID-19 website for further information and updates on the disease and how to stay safe from it.

Let us know your progress with this exercise: Toll Free 0800 299 299 Landline 0303 302 512 Mobile number 0207 319 653 if you want to send a text message or WhatsApp to ask a question or share an experience. info@seefgh.org www.seefgh.org

Bye.