1. health and fitness

Newsletter
Spring 2015
Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis, on blossom
Shoulder Breadth Measuring
By Monica Walker
From 1st April, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will no
longer allow helicopter operators to carry passengers
whose body size would not allow them safe exit from the
nearest push out emergency window writes Monica Walker,
Senior Occupational Health Nurse Advisor.
This led to the creation of a passenger size working group to decide how to measure
the offshore workforce. They consulted with the CAA, academic experts, employers
and employees to explore how best to measure the workforce and, a shoulder width
measurement was deemed the preferred solution.
Shoulders are musculoskeletal in nature and therefore do not
change significantly with compression (unlike the abdomen
for instance). Shoulder measurement is done easily and
reliably with minimal equipment and both men and women
can be easily measured.
be pulled up as this may affect the final measurement. The
measurer will ask you to stand in a certain way and the
measurement will be taken. The size of the survival suits
and layers of clothing worn on a flight have been taken into
consideration in how measurements are calculated.
Each measurer will have been trained by someone who has
attended the Train the Measurer course in January of this
year, and will have a unique measurer number which will be
indicated on the certificate issued following measurement.
You will then be classified as XBR (Extra Broad) or Non XBR.
XBR passengers will still be able to travel offshore but they will
be allocated specific seats on each flight, the only difference
being the position of these seats. Around 30% of seats on
flights going offshore are classed as XBR.
Measuring is simple and quick and a trained measurer uses
callipers adapted specifically for this purpose. The measurer
must have clear access to the upper arm so wearing a vest
type top or being topless is a must. Short sleeves cannot
For further information regarding shoulder breath
measuring please contact RS Occupational Health on
01224 460044.
In 2014, RS Occupational
Health was acquired by
DISA Global Solutions
Inc. in a multimillion
pound deal which added
significantly to a strongly
held position within the UK
occupational health sector.
Pictured from left, are: Jeff Boyles (Disa
Global Solutions), Dr Andrew Goodge (RSOH
founder), Fiona Willis (RSOH Co-founder) and
Colin Woods (Disa Global Solutions).
RSOH has marked
the first anniversary
of its acquisition by
a Houston-based
global employee
health services
provider
Since then, the strengths, synergies
and shared focus on quality by the
two organisations have resulted in
considerable growth in many key sectors.
This has enabled both companies to be
well positioned to capitalise on future
growth and development opportunities.
Commenting on the anniversary of
the acquisition, DISA Global Solutions
Inc. Vice President, Sales & External
Operations Colin Woods said “This
acquisition has been our springboard
into the global marketplace due to
RS Occupational Health’s strong
reputation, diverse service offering, and
the knowledge of their employees.”
“Combined with the RS Occupational
Health’s multiple locations and DISA’s
existing operations in the UK, we have
combined our strengths to position
ourselves favourably as a major player
in the North Sea region and continue
to collaborate on expanding services
nationwide. He added: “We are excited
about the future of our organisations
and the work we have ahead of us.”
RS Occupational Health founder Dr
Andrew Goodge added: “As we mark
the first anniversary of the sale, it is
clear that the move has delivered
everything we believed it would. We
have outperformed our predictions
and gained clients to whom we would
not have been in a position to supply a
service previously.”
Co-founder Fiona Willis added:
“The level of investment
and support from DISA has
enabled RS Occupational Health
to grow beyond expectations.
DISA have remained committed
to our core values of quality and
customer service. The wealth
of sharing of expertise between
our organisations has brought
many benefits and opened up
opportunities both here in the UK
and the USA.”
RS Occupational
Health Kicks Off New
Series Of Knowledge
Sharing Events
The February 25th event
took place at the company’s
Aberdeen headquarters on the
city’s Whitemyres Avenue and
benefited from the expertise of RS
Occupational Health senior medical
advisor Dr Shirley Kong and Scott
Baxter RMN, an Associate of Chapter
1 Consultancy Ltd.
Building on the success
of lunch and learn events
held during the past two
years, RS Occupational
Health has kicked off a
new season with a session
on substance abuse in the
workplace.
Scott has 25 years of extensive
experience working as a practitioner
and senior manager in mental health,
alcohol and substance misuse within
the statutory, private and voluntary
sectors. As a seasoned trainer, Scott
presents regularly at universities,
colleges, schools, within the voluntary
sector, local and multinational energy
organisations.
Commenting on the first lunch and
learn of 2015, RS Occupational Health
business development manager
Patricia Douglas said:
“Substance abuse is an
ongoing and important issue
for workplaces in all sectors
and this session focused on
key areas such as current
trends, legislation, our testing
methods and implications for
fitness to work.”
She added: “Due to the high demand
for this event, we are already planning a
second session in April and details will
be announced soon.”
For any employer with links to West Africa, awareness
of the ongoing risks associated with the Ebola virus is
crucially important writes Marleen Leighton, Occupational
Health Nurse Advisor.
According to statistics from the World Health Organisation released earlier this year,
there have been more than 20,000 cases of Ebola in West Africa, leading to almost
8,000 deaths.
Previously known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, Ebola is a
rare and deadly disease, caused by infection with one of the
virus strains. The virus takes its name from the Ebola River in
Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) where it
first emerged in 1976. Although its source remains unknown,
researchers believe that the virus may be animal-borne,
and bats have been identified as the most likely source.
days later by diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal
pain. Other symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of
breath, headache or confusion may also develop. Signs
and symptoms may become increasingly severe and may
include jaundice (yellow skin), severe weight loss, mental
confusion, bleeding inside and outside the body and
complications such as shock, and multi-organ failure.
Ebola can cause disease in humans and nonhuman primates
(monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees) and there are five
virus species, four of which are known to cause disease in
humans. Three strains have been associated with large Ebola
outbreaks in Africa. One strain (the Ebola Reston strain)
is found in monkeys in the Philippines and China and has
infected humans but no illness or death has been reported.
Although there is currently no specific treatment to cure
Ebola, early supportive care includes intravenous fluids
or oral rehydration with solutions containing electrolytes.
To help control further spread of the virus, people
suspected or confirmed as having the disease should
be isolated from other patients and treated by health
workers using strict infection control precautions.
Ebola is transmitted from one person to another through
contact with blood and body fluids such as urine, saliva, vomit,
sweat, and diarrhoea. The likelihood of contracting the virus
is extremely low unless a person has had direct, unprotected
contact with a person infected with Ebola virus and those most
at risk are healthcare workers, family members and mourners
who have direct contact with the bodies of the deceased.
Precautions you can take to help minimise risk include;
The incubation period for Ebola ranges from two to twenty
one days and is most commonly eight to ten days. The
initial signs and symptoms of Ebola are similar to other
more common diseases found in West Africa (such as
malaria and typhoid) and any patient showing signs or
symptoms should be considered infectious until diagnosis.
- Do not consume bush meat and only eat well cooked food
Initial indications include fever, chills, fatigue, weakness
and muscle aches followed approximately four to six
To find out more please contact RS Occupational Health on
01224 460044.
- Avoid high risk activities such as unprotected contact
with ill people or their body fluids, funerals in affected
areas and visits to facilities treating Ebola patients
- Avoid contact with animals (including monkeys,
forest antelopes, rodents, bats) dead or alive
- Pay strict attention to hygiene including washing hands
frequently and properly, using soaps or antiseptics
- If you are sick do not travel, go to work or meet with
others and seek medical advice immediately
Staff
Spotlight
Originally from Venezuela, Dr Alex Mijares MD MFOM
studied medicine at The Central University of Venezuela.
His course included an occupational health module
which sparked his interest in the subject and lead him to
specialise in this area.
Alex joined the team in 2014 as senior occupational health physician,
bringing more than eight years of experience in occupational health in the
public and private sectors nationally and abroad, including consultant and
clinical lead at the Queen’s Hospital in Romford, Essex and director of the
occupational health prevention service at Mercadona SA, Spain.
Alex is a key member of staff at RS Occupational Health and is in charge
of the clinical teams in Aberdeen, Inverness and Great Yarmouth. His role
includes clinical governance of RS Occupational Health’s clinic activities,
medical supervision (including leading and supporting clinical staff), and
regulatory and legislative compliance.
First Anniversary Marked With New Appointments
RS Occupational Health recently
celebrated its first anniversary
since the relocation of its Aberdeen
headquarters to larger premises
at Muirfield House on the city’s
Whitemyres Avenue. The move was
fuelled by rapid business growth and
a desire to capitalise on emerging
business hubs in and around the city.
Pictured, back row, from left, are: Neil Watters,
Scott Baxter, Darren Fennell. Pictured, front
row, from left are: Kayleigh Geddes, Emma
Cunningham , Melissa Murray.
RS Occupational Health
recently marked the first
anniversary of its move
to new headquarters by
welcoming a number of
new staff members to the
Aberdeen team.
Aberdeen HQ
Since the relocation and subsequent
acquisition by Houston-based DISA
Global Solutions Inc, the company’s
headcount has continued to grow with
five new faces recently joining the team.
Scott Baxter and Neil Watters have
been appointed business development
executives, Darren Fennel senior
business support administrator, and
Emma Cunningham and Kayleigh
Geddes have joined the administration
team. Melissa Murray has moved from
the post of administrator to business
support administrator and Monica
Walker has been promoted to the
Great Yarmouth
position of senior occupational
health nurse advisor. In addition, the
Inverness clinic has welcomed Susan
McKenzie to the role of occupational
health nurse advisor.
Commenting on the announcement,
Fiona Willis said:
“We have gone through
significant changes during the last
12 months and this anniversary
was an excellent time to reflect
on how these have had a positive
impact on our business. We
have very quickly grown into our
Whitemyres Avenue premises due
to the ongoing expansion of the
team to meet the needs of our
growing client base, and we look
forward to continuing this positive
trend in the future.”
Further new appointments are expected to
be announced before the end of the year.
Inverness
Muirfield House
Whitemyres Avenue
Aberdeen
AB16 6HQ
Unit 1A, The Courtyard
Main Cross Road
Great Yarmouth
NR30 3NZ
10 Lotland Street
Inverness
IV1 1PA
T 01224 460044
E [email protected]
T 01493 249009
E [email protected]
T 01463 513100
E [email protected]
www.rsoh.co.uk
www.disa.com