PERHAPS one of the highlights of my career was when I was made a chief in a small village in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) in 1986.

After that, a series of events brought me back down to earth.

It was on a normal afternoon during a visit to the plantation and the natural palm groves that I was led to the village by the river Kwenge.

This village was near the town of Kikwit, about 500km east of Kinshasa. Unilever had started its first palm oil mill there in 1911 to supply the soap factories in Liverpool.

In later years, the supplies increased from Malaysia and Indonesia.

Although the business had lost its role as an exporter, it was still an important supplier for the country.

Certainly, the community benefited from Unilever’s presence, employing a population that had experienced not only poverty but also diseases and epidemics such as AIDS and malaria.

Probably even Dr Steve Watson, the director of that region for Unilever Plantations, did not know that I would be installed that day as chief of the village.

It was likely the work of the chef de personnel, an ambitious person from the area.

The people were waiting around an open circle with a stool placed in the middle of the sandy floor.

I was invited to sit on the stool and as soon as the drums began to beat, the chief stepped up with gifts, including three arrows, a drum made of antelope skin and, to top it all, a fly whisk that he placed in my hand.

It was a symbol of power.

The chief’s hands shook slightly.

“You are the chief of this whole village and we are your people now. In your absence, I will be your assistant chief and I will take care of all affairs until your return.”

This was said in the Kikongo language, translated into French by the chef de personnel in a loud and unnecessarily lengthy manner to impress everyone, as I looked around me, and then translated into English by Dr Watson.

He was a Scot who had worked with me in Pamol Sabah and was now in charge of areas extending to the Kasai River.

For the next few days, I travelled with him to see the other plantations, at Mapangu and Bongimba, and I was warned in advance to take my pills against malaria.

In Kikwit, I was reminded of the real risk when I visited a young Belgian engineer at the company rest-house. He lay in bed, shivering.

A transport was arranged to take him to Kinshasa.

But soon after I returned home to Cobham in Surrey, I developed a fever and my body shook. It went on for a few days.

When I became delirious, Maznah took me back to the clinic and suggested to the young doctor: “It could be malaria treatment that he needs.”

The young doctor changed the medicine.

Probably malaria cases were rare in that small town before.

I stopped shivering but still felt feeble when I returned to the office.

Waiting for me were a few messages.

The first, with regret, informed me that the young engineer had died before he arrived in Brussels.

The others concerned changes in top management.

In Malaysia, Pamol had a new chairman who came from Unilever’s factories side and had not previously seen a plantation.

It was a time when many businesses were struggling.

This was a period that followed diversification – a mantra that didn’t always work – ending with the cutting off of parts that were considered non-core. The heroes of the day were directors who boasted about the number of managers they had laid off.

In Unilever’s case, the company decided to slot excess managers where it could and Pamol was not excluded.

The process had shifted from selecting people experienced in plantations.

This shift confirmed the fears that deterred managers from accepting overseas assignments, uncertain if they could return.

In my case, I had been based in London for three years.

Leslie Davidson had asked the personnel department to send me an offer letter for the position of managing director in Cameroon.

Barry Mack, who was there, had resigned for health reasons.

I had discussed this with Maznah and her answer was simple: “When you were sick, I sat by your bed each day, thinking how I might have to pull the children out of school and bring your body home in a box. I don’t want that stress anymore.” I had to refuse the job.

The next offer was to be the director of personnel in DR Congo for Unilever, with its vast business there.

The significant hardship allowance was tempting.

I was to take over the role from Colin Bewick.

I remembered supporting John Dodd, the plantations director, who had insisted on Colin’s departure. I had no idea that one day I’d be in this situation.

Maznah’s response was the same: “Let’s go home and you can look for another job.”

I spoke to Leslie Davidson. We remained close friends, but I knew that with the way head office operated, the decisions weren’t his alone.

“Go with Maznah and the children and stay for a month in Kuala Lumpur. See if you can find a job there. I’ll see what I can do.”

On the long flight back, I had much to think about.

The three children were on school holiday and although glad to be on a plane, they didn’t fully understand what was happening.

Soon I would be jobless. I felt powerless.

Even the fly whisk I kept at home couldn’t help me now.

The writer has extensive experience in the management of oil palm plantations.
Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

Toronto — Aiming to improve diagnosis and treatment of work-related diseases, Minister of Labor David Piccini has announced that the Ontario government plans to establish an Occupational Exposure Registry by 2025.

Wuhan, China — Shift work is linked to two kinds of mental health issues – and lifestyle factors can play a role, results of a recent study out of China suggest.

These digital backside lenses, designed with office ergonomics in mind, are available in three styles: VISION EASE Computer, VISION EASE Desk and VISION EASE Office.

San Francisco – A nonprofit organization has released a report identifying more than 20 occupations associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

Atlanta – As many as 2.7 million U.S. workers may have asthma caused or aggravated by workplace conditions, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded that as many as 2.7 million U.S. workers may have asthma caused or aggravated by workplace conditions. And federal statistics show that about 11 million workers are exposed to at least one of several agents associated with occupational asthma.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking feedback on updated occupational exposure assessments for three seed treatment pesticides to which exposure may cause negative health effects.

As the world’s first internationally approved standard on workplace health and safety, ISO 45001 offers a single definitive framework to improve the performance of occupational health and safety management systems.

Although OSHA has no standard regarding occupational homicide, it can be a significant risk, especially for workers in what NIOSH deems “high-risk workplaces.” These workplaces include liquor stores, taxicabs, motels, gas stations and jewelry stores.

This white paper assesses the significance of OHS data, analyzes current performance in the domain, identifies significant trends, and proposes interventions to address concerns and enhance overall performance.

Montreal — Noise exposure in the workplace can accelerate presbycusis – the normal loss of hearing as a result of aging – according to a literature review conducted by researchers at the Canadian scientific research organization IRSST.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, musculoskeletal disorders accounted for 33 percent of all workplace injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work in 2011.

Skin diseases are the second most common type of occupational illness, with more than 13 million workers potentially exposed to chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin.

The Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health degree will provide students with a flexible, relevant and current curriculum that includes opportunities for students to demonstrate a depth of knowledge in safety and health theory and technology necessary to function at the safety and health professional level in industry.

Audition Technology’s white paper summarizes the current global standards for safe listening in the environment and from audio (headphones) and provides a framework for monitoring lifestyle exposures versus safe dose, building awareness and self-management with associated tools offered by the company.

Histoplasmosis is a non-contagious, non-transmittable infectious disease caused by inhaling the spores of a fungus.

Occupational skin diseases are the second-most common type of occupational disease. NIOSH estimates that more than 13 million U.S. workers are potentially exposed to chemicals that can be absorbed through their skin.

Occupational asthma is a respiratory disease in which on-the-job exposure to certain substances causes the airways of a person’s lungs to swell and narrow.

Occupational asthma can develop when a worker breathes in gases, chemical fumes, dust or other work-related substances. According to Mayo Clinic, it also can result from exposure to a substance a worker is sensitive to, triggering an allergic or immunological response.

Providing your employees with the most accurate-fitting safety footwear, body-aligning orthotics and medical-grade compression socks will give them a 1-2-3 punch to eliminate late-afternoon slump, feel better at the end of their shift and have a better quality of life off the job.

How can I best protect my workers from on-the-job silica exposure?

Washington — A special issue of the journal Seminars in Hearing “shines a light” on NIOSH’s efforts to prevent on-the-job hearing loss.

The post Spatial Agency and Occupation Migrant Domestic Workers in Hong Kong was curated by information for practice.

Volume 34, Issue 5, September-October 2024, Page 323-347. Read the full article ›

The post A Comparison of Perspectives of Inmates vs. Staff in Determining Critical Content for Occupational Therapy Transitional Programming with Female Inmates was curated by information for practice.

The incommensurately modulated structure of (2S,3S)-2-amino-3-hy­droxy-3-methyl-4-phen­oxy­butanoic acid dihydrate (C11H15NO4·2H2O or I·2H2O) is described in the (3+1)-dimensional superspace group P212121(0β0)000 (β = 0.357). The loss of the three-dimensional periodicity is ascribed to the occupational modulation of one positionally disordered solvent water mol­ecule, where the two positions are related by a small translation [ca 0.666 (9) Å] and ∼168 (5)° rotation about one of its O—H bonds, with an average 0.624 (3):0.376 (3) occupancy ratio. The occupational modulation of this mol­ecule arises due to the com­petition between the different hy­dro­gen-bonding motifs associated with each position. The structure can be very well refined in the average approximation (all satellite reflections disregarded) in the space group P212121, with the water mol­ecule refined as disordered over two positions in a 0.625 (16):0.375 (16) ratio. The refinement in the commensurate threefold supercell approximation in the space group P1121 is also of high quality, with the six corresponding water mol­ecules exhibiting three different occupancy ratios averaging 0.635:0.365.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) should lead a collaborative effort with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the states to establish and strengthen regional occupational safety and health surveillance programs, says a new report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

AIHA announced the availability of free resources to support rail operators in reducing health risks associated with work conducted on railroads.

 As the world’s leading international trade fair for the occupational safety and health sector, A+A is renowned for its wide range of products and international reach.

Do your employees truly know what to look for and can they recognize the hazards and risks associated with their tasks? Is it psychologically safe to openly recognize hazards and risks and choose safe actions within the culture? 

Rachel E. Palmeri, GSP is noted for her work in research and development at the Southwest Research Institute

The U.S. Department of Labor is seeking nominations for four positions on the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health. The department said it is seeking one public representative, one…

Two senators in Connecticut announced plans to introduce legislation that would treat substance abuse as an occupational hazard. “If a worker is injured on the job, they receive treatment, but if…

West Virginia’s Intermediate Court of Appeals upheld the denial of a widow’s claim for benefits, finding her late husband’s occupational pneumoconiosis had not materially contributed to his death. Sherman Bailey received…

The West Virginia Supreme Court upheld the denial of a worker’s occupational pneumoconiosis claim. Case: Lewis v. Columbia West Virginia Corp., No. 23-616, 09/23/2024, published. Facts: Jackie W. Lewis Sr. worked for…

The West Virginia Supreme Court upheld an award of occupational disease-dependent death benefits to a worker’s widow. Case: Appalachian Boiler & Fab LLC v. Caruthers, No. 23-345, 09/23/2024, published. Facts: Johnny A.

West Virginia’s Intermediate Court of Appeals upheld a determination that a worker was not entitled to an increase in his permanent partial disability award for occupational pneumoconiosis. Case: Lucey v. Murray…

The Maryland Appellate Court upheld the denial of a worker’s claim of occupational disease and accidental injury from his alleged chemical exposure. Robert Butler worked as a driver for Velocity Rail…

West Virginia’s Intermediate Court of Appeals upheld an award of 0% permanent partial disability for a worker’s occupational pneumoconiosis. Case: Foster v. Kingston Mining Inc., No. 24-ICA-172, 10/28/2024, published. Facts: Nelson Foster…

The Ohio Court of Appeals upheld a determination that a widow timely filed her claim for benefits for a worker’s death from an occupational disease caused by his asbestos exposure…

On October 27, Bermuda will join the global community in celebrating World Occupational Therapy Day, recognizing the vital contributions of Occupational Therapists [OTs] who empower individuals to engage fully in daily life and promoting the 2024 theme, “Occupational Therapy for All.” A Government spokesperson said, “World Occupational Therapy Day will be celebrated on October 27th, […]

And all those that supported this guy after you were warned and you saw what he unleashed on the country with his Operation Warp Speed are to blame.  Don’t even try and deny it.  Once again, Donald Trump is set to enter the People’s White House and you know that  we are going to get …

Arab and Muslim leaders demanded that Israel withdraw from occupied Palestinian territories as a precondition for regional peace, while denouncing "shocking" Israeli crimes in war-ravaged Gaza.

Socioeconomic status (SES) impacts cognitive health. Higher education, better jobs, and more wealth can lower dementia risk and improve recovery. (!--ref1--)

Manchester : Manchester University Press, [2018]