The Keta Municipal Assembly held a one-day sensitization workshop on Workplace Health and Safety for its staff. The workshop, which took place at the Keta Municipal Assembly Hall, formed part of the Assembly’s 2024 Staff Capacity Building Plan aimed at promoting safety consciousness and improving emergency preparedness within the Assembly. A total of seventy-two (72) officers took part in the event, comprising twenty-two (22) females and fifty (50) males.
The program commenced with an address by the Head of the Human Resource Department, who welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of workplace health and safety. Following a round of introductions, the Human Resource Manager outlined the purpose of the workshop, which included training staff on preventing workplace injuries, administering first aid, fire prevention techniques, and understanding the roles and responsibilities of both the Ghana National Ambulance Service and the Ghana National Fire Service. He urged participants to actively engage in the sessions, ask questions, and apply the lessons learned in their daily activities.
The workshop was facilitated by a team of professionals drawn from the Ghana National Ambulance Service and the Ghana National Fire Service. The facilitators included Mr. Mathias B. Akorli, Mr. Gorni A. X. Wisdom, and Mr. Emmanuel Tordzro from the Ambulance Service, alongside Mr. Julius Maniassah and Mr. Joshua Norgbey from the Fire Service.
The training was divided into three main sessions. Session One focused on the prevention of workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths. Staff were taken through risk assessment processes to identify potential hazards in the workplace. The facilitators emphasized the importance of using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), having clear emergency procedures, and ensuring the availability of first aid equipment. Participants were also educated on administering first aid and the physical, mental, and financial consequences of workplace accidents.
Additionally, the duties of the Ghana National Ambulance Service were explained, highlighting their 24-hour emergency transport and medical care services. Practical health tips on managing hypertension, hypotension, and responding to cardiac arrest were shared with participants.
Session Two addressed fire prevention and safety. Facilitators defined fire as a combustion process requiring heat, fuel, and oxygen. They identified causes of fire, including carelessness, electrical faults, and ignorance, and provided practical fire safety tips for homes, offices, and industries. Participants were advised to rewire buildings every 15 to 20 years, avoid leaving electrical gadgets on unattended, and install fire extinguishers in strategic locations. The session concluded with a practical demonstration on the correct use of fire extinguishers.
Session Three featured a team from Ghana Commercial Bank, who introduced participants to various financial services and products.
At the end of the workshop, participants were better equipped to handle emergencies, administer first aid, and adopt fire safety measures. Key recommendations included the installation of fire extinguishers at critical points within the Assembly premises and organizing regular health and safety sensitizations.
In his closing remarks, the Head of the Human Resource Department expressed appreciation to the facilitators and participants, urging staff to apply the knowledge gained to improve safety standards within the Assembly and their personal environments. He reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of its workforce.
