7 fatal work accidents registered in second half of 2022

Feb 20 2023

According to new statistics by the National Statistics Office, the number of non-fatal work accident claims in the latter half of 2022 decreased by 24, or 1.9%, compared to the same period in 2021.

Seven fatal work accidents were reported during this time. In the July-December 2022 period, 1,229 individuals were involved in non-fatal work accidents, with the majority occurring in the construction sector (211 or 17.2%).

Another 201 or 16.4% of the accidents happened in the manufacturing sector, followed by the transportation and storage sector (173 or 14.1%).

The construction sector experienced the largest increase in accidents compared to the previous year (25 or 13.4%).

The majority of those affected in work accidents were in elementary occupations, followed by craft and related trades workers.

Nearly half of the injuries affected the upper extremities, with wounds and superficial injuries, dislocations, sprains, and strains being the most common types of injuries.

In the latter half of 2022, 29.2% of accidents occurred in enterprises with 500 employees or more. The standardised incidence rate of non-fatal work accidents was highest in manufacturing, followed by construction and transportation and storage.

OHSA reported seven fatal work accidents between July and December 2022, while there were three fatal work accidents in the same period in 2021.

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Read full report here.

Kate Middleton wears Zara earrings and up-cycled gown in bid to become more relatable

Feb 20 2023

The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, made a stunning appearance at the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) alongside her husband, Prince William, at the Royal Festival Hall in London.

While Prince William kept it classic in a double-breasted black velvet tuxedo jacket, Kate stole the show in a stunning Alexander McQueen one-shoulder gown that she previously wore to the BAFTAs in 2019.

What caught everyone’s attention were the pair of £18 earrings from Zara that the Duchess wore with her outfit.

The Duchess is known for her love of high street brands, and Zara is one of her favourites. She regularly wears pieces from the brand and mixes them with designer pieces.

The affordable and fashionable earrings added a touch of glamour to her outfit but, most importantly, made the Duchess much more relatable to a new generation as the royal family struggles to keep their status relevant in the 2020s and beyond.

The Duchess completed her look with dramatic opera gloves, which have become a must-have accessory for any formal occasion, according to stylists. The gloves made a statement with panache and elegance, adding to her old-fashioned Hollywood glamour look.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have made it a tradition to attend the biggest night in UK cinema each year. Their last appearance was in 2020, shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic brought lockdown to the UK.

The royal couple’s appearance at the event came just days after their visit to the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, where they learned about the area’s heritage and helped with the refurbishment of a sailing dinghy.

The Duchess looked effortlessly elegant, sporting a chestnut brown Hobbs coat and matching knee-high boots, teamed with a red outfit underneath, proving that she is the queen of the high street as she made a fashion statement with her affordable and fashionable earrings from Zara at the BAFTAs.

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At leat 36 killed due to Brazil flooding and landslides

Feb 20 2023

At least 36 people lost their lives during Carnival weekend in Brazil’s southeast Sao Paulo state due to flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rains, according to authorities.

The state government reported that at least 35 people died in Sao Sebastiao, with an additional fatality in the town of Ubatuba.

The state civil defence chief warned that more deaths were expected. The disaster left another 228 people homeless, and 338 were evacuated in the coastal region north of Sao Paulo as rescue crews rushed to help those affected.

The amount of people missing or injured was not disclosed.

Sao Paulo state governor Tarcisio de Freitas declared a state of emergency in five coastal towns after touring the area affected by the weather. He freed up approximately $1.5 million for rescue operations.

More than 100 firefighters and soldiers were working on the ground to help those affected, with aid from helicopters.

In Sao Sebastiao, which is located 200 kilometres north of Sao Paulo, a record 60 centimetres of rain fell in 24 hours, causing the situation to become “extremely critical,” according to the town’s mayor. The city is a popular destination for people from Sao Paulo during the pre-Lenten holiday weekend, which had to be cancelled. Carnival events in other locations were also cancelled.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva promised to visit the area and stated that the government at all levels would work together to “take care of the injured, look for missing people and restore roads, energy, and telecommunications.”

Climate change-fuelled extreme weather events have caused significant damage in Brazil in recent years, with last year’s heavy rains in the city of Petropolis claiming the lives of over 230 people.

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Poor & irregular sleep can lead to risk of heart health issues

Feb 20 2023

Poor sleep quality and irregular sleep patterns could increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

The study is one of the first to provide evidence of a connection between irregular sleep duration and timing and atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is the build-up of plaque in arteries, which can lead to coronary heart disease, angina, heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral artery disease.

The authors defined sleep regularity as variations in sleep duration and timing. The study analyzed the sleep of over 2,000 participants, with an average age of 69, who took part in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Participants kept a sleep diary and wore a wristwatch that tracked their sleep and wake history, and underwent an at-home sleep study.

The study found those with irregular sleep duration were about 1.4 times more likely to have high coronary artery calcium scores, which increases the risk of some cardiovascular conditions, and were more likely to have carotid plaque and abnormal results from a test assessing blood vessel stiffness.

The findings could be due to a direct link between sleep and the heart, lifestyle factors, or both.

“This study is one of the first investigations to provide evidence of a connection between irregular sleep duration and irregular sleep timing and atherosclerosis,” said lead study author Kelsie Full, an assistant professor of medicine in the epidemiology division at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.

Life’s Essential 8, the American Heart Association’s checklist for lifelong good health, includes eating healthy, being physically active, quitting tobacco, managing weight, controlling cholesterol and managing blood sugar and blood pressure.

The association recommends adults get seven to nine hours of sleep each night, which is more likely if you have sound sleep hygiene.

This would involve hitting the sack and waking up at the same time daily, whilst also avoiding caffeine after late morning, avoiding screen usage before bed, sleeping in dark, quiet rooms and restricting your bedroom for sleep and intimacy.

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