Promulgate National Occupational Health and Safety policy

Kumasi, Sept. 5, GNA- Mr Joshua Ansah, General Secretary of the Timber and Woodworkers Union (TWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), has appealed to the government to come out with a legislation on National Occupational Health and Safety to cater for those in the labour sector.

He said currently, Ghana did not have a national policy on occupational health and safety, saying that the present 'Factories, Offices and Shop' Act 1970, does not cater for several employment sections such as forestry, agriculture, fisheries and health services.

Speaking at the closing session of a two-day Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and HIV/AIDS awareness workshop in Kumasi on Thursday, Mr Ansah said policy makers and employers must ensure that provision of safe and healthy working environment become a key consideration in all investment and production decisions.

The workshop, which was attended by 28 representatives from the various timber industries in the Kumasi metropolis, was organised by the TWU in collaboration with the International Federation of Building and Woodworkers (IFBWW) and Lotco, a German organisation.

The General Secretary called for an amendment in the Factories, Offices and Shops Act and a law to authorise a unionised health and safety officer who can compel workers to stop work in an unsafe environment without waiting for management to do so.

He said over one million people die worldwide as a result of work related injuries and diseases including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, cancer, mental and neurological ailments 05 Sept. 03