Australian Food Safety Week – 12-19 November

by Belinda | Oct 27, 2022 | Health Assessments, Uncategorised, Workplace Education

Australian Food Safety Week will run from 12-19^th November.  This year’s theme is Food safety – raw and risky.  As the theme suggests, the focus will be on covering the risk of food poisoning from raw or minimally cooked meat, poultry, fish, eggs & vegetables as well as the risk of possible parasite infections.  This year marks the 25^th Anniversary of the Food Safety Information Council have been educating the Australian community about food safety.

Food safety at the workplace

Bringing your lunch to work is not only a healthy option but also cost effective.  But not all workplaces have the facilities, (for whatever reason) to be able to safely store your food in a fridge.  With research showing that there are an estimated 4.1 million cases of food poisoning in Australia each year, it is time we focus on safely packaging and storing our food.  Bacteria can grow quickly in some foods, such as cooked poultry and other meats, dairy products and sandwich fillings so it’s important to keep your lunch boxes cool.   A simple way of doing this is to include a freezer block in with your lunch or freeze a juice box and add that to keep your food cool until lunchtime.

5 simple lunchbox food safety tips:

1. When buying lunchboxes choose ones that have room for a frozen drink or freezer block & are easy to clean & dry
2. Always wash & dry your hands thoroughly before preparing food
3. Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly
4. Make sure lunchbox foods are always well separated from other foods in the refrigerator, particularly raw meats, chicken & fish
5. Keep the lunch cool in the fridge until you are about to leave home

(Source: Food Safety Information Council)

Here are some good tips from the Food Safety Information Council on thing to do and look for.

Choose

• Low risk foods
• Lunchboxes that are easy to clean & dry. (Insulated lunchboxes are a great idea)

Clean

• When preparing food, always practice scrupulous handwashing
• Lunchboxes & reusable drink bottles must be thoroughly washed and dried daily. Replace if cracked, split or crazed, as bugs love hidey holes
• Ensure cutting boards, benches & utensils are clean & dry
• Wash all fruits & vegetables thoroughly
• With a staff kitchen, set up a roster to ensure bench tops are clean & dish cloths, sponges, brushes & tea towels are clean & replaced regularly
• Wash dirty dishes in hot soapy water or put in the dishwasher

Cook

• Make sure lunch foods are cooked properly in the first place
• When reheating, make sure they are steaming hot all the way through

Chill

• Lunches can safely be prepared a little ahead of time provided they are kept in the fridge or frozen
• When leaving home, pack a frozen juice box, water bottle or commercial ice pack with the lunch. Place perishable foods such as cheeses and sandwiches between the frozen items
• Keep lunchboxes away from heat sources including direct sunlight
• Divide cooked leftovers into small lunch-sized portions so they refrigerate or freeze quickly
• Put food in the fridge as soon as you get to work or if there is no fridge available, pack food in insulated containers with frozen drinks or freezer bricks
• Staff fridges should be uncrowded and running at or below 5°C

Separate

• Make sure lunchbox foods have been well separated from other foods in the refrigerator, particularly meats, chicken & fish

General Advice

• If in doubt throw it out!
• Warn children against sharing drinks and food due to allergies
• If you or your child has food poisoning don’t go to work or school & avoid handling food for others for 48 hours after symptoms stop. If food poisoning symptoms persist, visit a doctor.

(Source: Food Safety Information Council)

World Antibiotic Awareness Week – 18-24 November

by Belinda | Oct 27, 2022 | Health Assessments, Uncategorised, Workplace Education

November 18^th – 24^th is Antimicrobial Awareness Week.  The overarching message for Antimicrobial Awareness Week in 2022 is Antimicrobials: handle with care and the theme for 2022 is Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together for the food, animal, agriculture and human health sectors.  (Source: Safety and Quality.gov.au)

According to the World Health Organisation (2020), World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) aims to increase the awareness of global antimicrobial resistance and to encourage best practices among the general public, health workers and policy makers to avoid further emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections.

Antimicrobial Awareness Week is an opportunity to focus on, and promote, the safe and appropriate use of antimicrobials in your health service or hospital and note the challenges of antimicrobial resistance to safe, quality health care provision.

What are antibiotics?

Antibiotics are medicines used to prevent and treat bacterial infections. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in response to the use of these medicines.

WHO has outlined five goals about global antibiotic resistance including:

1. Raising awareness
2. Increasing monitoring and research
3. Reducing infections
4. Making the best use of antimicrobial medications
5. Committing to “sustainable investment.”

Facts about antibiotic resistance

1. Antibiotic resistance is a global issue
2. Antibiotic resistance can affect anyone, of any age, in any country
3. Antibiotic resistance occurs naturally, but misuse of antibiotics in humans and animals is accelerating the process.
4. Resistance can be caused by using antibiotics inappropriately
5. A growing number of infections – such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhoea, and salmonellosis – are becoming harder to treat as the antibiotics used to treat them become less effective
6. Poor-quality Medicines can contribute to resistance
7. Better infection prevention and control can help reduce antibiotic resistance

Whilst antibiotics have their place and are effective when correctly used, we all have a part to play in helping to preserve the power of antibiotics with our knowledge.

CommuniTEA – Epilepsy Awareness Month

by Belinda | Oct 27, 2022 | Health Assessments, Uncategorised, Workplace Education

National Epilepsy Awareness Month in November is an annual event that teaches people about epilepsy’s causes and symptoms. One in 26 people will be diagnosed with epilepsy at some point during their lifetime.

‘In Australia, around 250,000 people are currently diagnosed with epilepsy – that’s over 1 per cent of the population.’ –www.epilepsy.org.au (2022).

The Epilepsy Awareness Month encourages you to gather together with your work colleagues, friends and family and enjoy and host a CommuniTEA.

If your workplace is interested in learning more about epilepsy and how to manage someone having a seizure in your workplace, Epilepsy Action Australia offer education for organisations, (available online).  https://learn.epilepsy.org.au/w/services/

What is epilepsy?

According to Epilepsy Action Australia (2021), epilepsy is diagnosed when someone has a tendency to have recurrent seizures.

Epilepsy in the workplace

Many people with epilepsy can be gainfully employed, while others find it difficult to get a job.

Epilepsy is often well controlled, however if it is not controlled, then finding a job may be difficult particularly if there are safety issues concerned.

Disclosing to your Employer

Legally in Australia, you are under no obligation to disclose your condition unless it affects your ability to meet the inherent requirements of your job. The worry about discrimination at work is a genuine concern when disclosing epilepsy to an employer.

If you decide to, you should discuss with your employer any requirements you need for the job, the workplace environment (for safety issues), whether you work alone or in a group and whether you would need any specific accommodations made for your epilepsy.

For an employer to be able to fulfill their obligations under the WH&S Act, they need to be aware of any condition that may require them to change working practices or environment to improve safety. Disclosing can also allow the employer to make reasonable adjustments if you need any.

Maintaining Employment

According to Epilepsy Action Australia (2021), if seizures are likely to hinder your performance at work, an employer is expected where possible to make reasonable adjustments to the workplace. This can include things like changing work hours or changing your role within the organisation until your seizures are controlled.

What is the best way to help someone having a convulsive seizure?
According to Epilepsy Action Australia (2020):

1. Stay with the person
2. Time the seizure
3. Keep them safe. Protect from injury, especially the head.
4. Roll person into recovery position after the seizure stops (or immediately if food/fluid/vomit is in mouth)
5. Observe and monitor breathing
6. Gently reassure until recovered
7. Call an ambulance if there is an injury; if the seizure lasts for longer than 5 minutes or if after the seizure ends the person is having breathing difficulties or is non-responsive.