by Grace | Jan 18, 2021 | Uncategorised
Throughout Summer, have you taken the time to monitor any changes to your skin?
A melanoma is a type of skin cancer which usually occurs on parts of the body that have been overexposed to the sun. Rare melanomas can occur inside the eye or in parts of the skin or body that have never been exposed to the sun – cancer.org.au (2019).
Workplace Health and Safety Victoria can help you check your employee’s skin health by offering efficient, thorough on-site skin checks and education provided by trusted professionals.
Whether your employees work indoors or outdoors, workplace skin checks are a vital part of any health and wellness program.
If your employee notes a suspicious spot or mole on their skin, our doctors may examine using a magnifying instrument, using the ABCDE method:
- A – Asymmetry, irregular;
- B – Border, uneven;
- C – Colour;
- D – Diameter (usually over 6mm);
- E – Evolving (changing and growing);
If our doctor suspects a melanoma, your employee will be referred to their GP or otherwise they can visit our clinic for further testing.
Enquire within for further information – [email protected] or call 0456 387 569.
by Grace | Jan 18, 2021 | Workplace Education
Feel good Feb was created to inspire people to initiate random acts of kindness to their fellow community.
Extensive research shows that ‘giving out good’ not only benefits the receiver but also increases the happiness of the giver (feelgoodfeb.org 2020).
Lift the vibe of your work colleagues today by performing at least one random act of kindness, you’ll FEEL GOOD – we promise 😊.
by Grace | Jan 18, 2021 | Workplace Education
Thursday 18th February is International Aspergers Day, which aims to highlight the significance of Asperger Syndrome for both society and individuals and also illustrates one of the many challenges to the newcomer trying to understand the autism spectrum.
Asperger’s Syndrome was the name given to a lifelong developmental disability that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others – https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/aspergers-syndrome (2020).
According to the Asperger/Autism Network, some professionals currently surmise that at least one in every 250 people has an Asperger profile.
Symptoms of Asperger’s Syndrome:
According to Health Direct (2020), people with this diagnosis often have average or above average intelligence, and can be quite creative, but they often find life hard. In particular, they find it hard to communicate and interact with other people.
For example, they often:
- struggle to express themselves;
- find it hard to understand others;
- find it hard to make friends;
- find it hard to work out what others might be thinking;
- find it hard to use their imagination;
These difficulties can lead to anxiety, confusion and frustration for the person, and sometimes for their family and friends.
Asperger’s Syndrome is only diagnosed by a specialist.
If you know of somebody living with Asperger’s Syndrome in the workplace, be kind. With support and encouragement, people with Asperger’s Syndrome can often lead a full and independent life. According to Health Direct (2020), sometimes people in the workplace with Aspergers Syndrome may at times need time alone or a chance to get some exercise (like a walk around the block). Breathing techniques and relaxing music may also be helpful.
Amaze.org.au provide some helpful hints when working with someone with Asperger’s Syndrome:
- Keep instructions brief and precise;
- Give the person time to process the instruction;
- If practical, make use of visual cues and procedures;
- Break work into smaller steps;
by Grace | Jan 18, 2021 | Health Assessments, Workplace Education
‘Smart Eating Week’ celebrates healthy eating and the benefits a nutritious diet brings to your body and well-being.
What are the benefits of eating a well-balanced diet both at work and at home?
- Reduced stress levels;
- Increased energy levels;
- An improved immune system, decreasing absentee days at work;
- Improved mood;
- Enhanced memory;
- Enhanced productivity;
- Improved gut health;
- Reduced cancer risk;
- Diabetes management;
- Heart health and stroke prevention;
- Strong bones and teeth;
- A better night’s sleep;
- Weight loss;
Not sure how healthy your diet is? Take this healthy eating quiz – https://daa.asn.au/smart-eating-for-you/smart-eating-fast-facts/healthy-eating/
As working adults, sometimes we find it hard juggling work, study, family time and relaxing. Find out what works for you, should it be packing your lunch the night before to ensure you cover your nutritious needs or writing a shopping list before you hit the supermarket!
What makes up a healthy lunch?
- Breads and cereals (preferably wholegrain);
- Fruits, vegetables, and legumes (lots of different colours and flavours);
- Low fat dairy, including milk, cheese and yoghurt;
Get some healthy lunchbox ideas from Better Health Vic – https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/HealthyLiving/Lunch-at-work
by Grace | Jan 18, 2021 | Uncategorised
According to the National Institute of Deafness (2017), Tinnitus is commonly described as a ringing in the ears, but it can also sound like roaring, clicking, hissing or buzzing. Roughly 10% of the adult population has experienced tinnitus lasting at least five minutes in the last year.
What causes tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a symptom when something is wrong in the auditory system, which includes the ear, auditory nerve and parts of the brain that process sound (NID, 2017). Some things that may cause tinnitus include:
- Earwax blocking the ear canal
- Noise-induced hearing loss
- Hormonal changes in women
- Thyroid abnormalities
- More health conditions diagnosed by your GP
Tinnitus is sometimes the first sign of hearing loss in older people.
According to NID (2017) people who work in noisy environments—such as factory or construction workers, road crews, or even musicians—can develop tinnitus over time when ongoing exposure to noise damages tiny sensory hair cells in the inner ear that help transmit sound to the brain. This is called noise-induced hearing loss.
Workplace Health and Safety Victoria offer hearing testing – this is generally used as a pre-employment check or a workplace yearly health check up as a workplace benefit. This entails employees sitting in a booth with earmuffs on and performing a test, where workplace health and safety will record results and handover to a GP who will discuss further with the employee.
If you experience tinnitus, always visit your GP where further assessments can take place.
If an employee is exposed to loud noises at work, the correct hearing protection needs to be supplied and workplaces need to train their employees when and how to correctly use this equipment – https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/resources/noise-control-hearing-protection.