The fast-paced evolution of modern work culture often overshadows the crucial aspect of employee well-being, which includes both physical and mental health. This issue has gained significant attention, especially following the global disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Annually, on April 28, the International Labour Organization (ILO) commemorates the World Day for Safety and Health at Work.
Introduced in 2003, this day serves to elevate the importance of creating safe and dignified work environments worldwide.
It aims to mobilise efforts to prevent work-related accidents, hazards, and diseases, which are vital not only for the safety but also for the well-being of workers globally.
“The International Labour Organization (ILO) began to observe World Day in 2003 to raise the political profile of occupational health and safety, and to fulfil the integral ‘advocacy’ component of their Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health,” explained Saima Wazed, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for South-East Asia.
She emphasised the importance of this initiative, stating, “Given that nearly 60 per cent of the global population is engaged in work, the fundamental right of all workers to a safe and healthy environment is one of great importance. Consider how much of our lives are spent in our workplaces, and it becomes apparent how workplace health and safety take on the dimensions of a public health concern.”
“Occupational health encompasses the physical, mental, and social well-being of workers while preventing workplace-related hazards. Hazards can lead to occupational diseases that erode workers’ ability to participate in the workforce and result in increased rates of long-term illness. World Health Organization (WHO) and ILO estimated that work-related diseases and injuries resulted in 1.88 million deaths in 2016,” Wazed added.
In Bangladesh, Dhaka Flow has risen as a prominent provider of wellness solutions to corporates, schools, universities, and communities. Dedicated to creating healthier, safer, and more inclusive environments, Dhaka Flow equips organizations and individuals with the necessary tools and knowledge to navigate today's dynamic workplace challenges effectively.
In recognition of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, Shazia Omar, a noted yogini, activist, writer, and the CEO and Founder of Dhaka Flow, along with Tahsin N Choudhury, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, shared insights into their action plans and perspectives.
“In Bangladesh, we always take our health more seriously and take medicines after being sick, but what about preventing it? We at Dhaka Flow aim to promote holistic healing and healthy lifestyle options among our communities, across Dhaka and Bangladesh, as we believe that if we take care of ourselves, our health, mental well-being, and state of mind through yoga, meditation, healthy eating habits etc, we can be healthier and happier without relying on medicines,” said Shazia Omar.
Dhaka Flow orchestrated a series of wellness workshops focusing on health and safety at workplaces. “April 28 is the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, for which we developed a bunch of wellness workshops to address the topics of health and safety at work. We have been running these workshops at corporate houses to help people learn more about maintaining a healthy lifestyle at work and afterwards, so they can be more productive and also happier at work,” Omar explained.
The workshops, part of a week-long event starting on April 28, include sessions on stress management, which highlight the benefits of breathwork and meditation, and fitness, discussing the importance of sleep, nutrition, and yoga. Another critical aspect covered is safety at work, advocating for a supportive environment that addresses physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Topics such as mental health awareness, emotional regulation, and sexual harassment prevention are thoroughly explored, providing participants with skills to foster a secure and respectful workplace culture.
“Recently, Dhaka Flow conducted a workshop at Cosmos Centre in collaboration with Lighthouse Therapy BD, marking the World Day for Safety and Health at Work,” said Tahsin N Choudhury, Dhaka Flow Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO).
“We covered all of the abovementioned topics such as how the employees work on stress management or how can we overcome any sort of adversity and challenge that we face in workplace, and what are some of the measures the corporate workplaces and offices should take which can prioritise the health and safety of the employees and make a program about it.”
“During this particular workshop at Cosmos Centre, we asked the employees about the types of stresses they face regularly, what are their challenges, what are some of the things they want to work on, and a detailed assessment in which we all scored ourselves against options such as our duration of sleep, our food intake habits such as how much vegetables we incorporate in our diet plans, how much we can walk, for how long we perform physical exercises etc.”
“Upon evaluating these, we discuss whether there is something that we can change from our end, and if any authority figure from our workplaces can provide us that support. Seeing how the Cosmos authority has taken this initiative to invest in their employees – especially for their health and safety, was wonderful,” Tahsin told UNB.
Beyond these workshops, Dhaka Flow offers training on gender equality, first aid and CPR, fire safety, and earthquake preparedness, catering to the diverse needs of modern workplaces. “If you believe that your team or office can benefit then please get in touch with us, we would love to come and engage with you,” Shazia Omar offered, inviting organizations to leverage Dhaka Flow's resources and expertise to enhance their work environments.
