Cabinet to consider occupational safety and health policy

A National Occupational Safety and Health Policy, would be placed before cabinet for approval by the end of August.

The overall goal of the new policy is to create a comprehensive national framework for effective coordination and harmonisation of occupational safety and health issues in the country to enhance the well-being of workers.

The objectives include promoting safe and healthy working environment through the prevention of accidents, injuries, ill-health and fatalities at the workplace as far as reasonably practicable.

The policy also seeks to protect the livelihood of victims of occupational accidents, injuries and fatalities and their dependents.

It would strengthen occupational safety and health related research and the adoption of modern and cost-effective technology; in addition to policy implementation, monitoring and evaluation structures for effectiveness and efficiency.

Mr Ernest Berko, Assistant Director, Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relation, presented the draft policy on Friday at a media encounter in Accra.

The media encounter was under the auspices of Ghana Employers Association (GEA), Trades Union Congress (TUC) and Business Sector Advocacy Challenge Fund.

On the rationale behind the new policy, Mr Berko said the current incidence of occupational injuries and diseases associated with the industrial society in Ghana is a very serious affront to humanity in view of the preventable nature of the conditions giving rise to these accidents occasioning injury, diseases and deaths.

He said failure to put in place measures to prevent, control or mitigate the consequences of exposure to workplace hazards could be considered a criminal negligence.

Mr Charles Asante-Bempong, GEA Director of Research and Project called on all and sundry to support the new policy to help employees work safely.

Nana Owusu Boateng, Desk Officer, Occupational Health and Safety Environment, TUC, said there is the need to educate people on occupational safety and health, and their responsibilities.

Ghana’s occupational safety, health and employee’s welfare legislation started with the Factories Ordinance of 1952 which was subsequently replaced 20 years later by the Factories, Offices and Shops (FOSA) Act, 1970 (Act 328).

The FOSA has not seen any significant changes ever since its promulgation more than 40 years ago even though the British workplace safety and health legislation, the Factories Act 1961, on which the FOSA was fashioned is undergoing changes at the time of its adoption in Ghana.

The unfortunate stagnation of FOSA has contributed to its inability to recognise the worldwide rapid changes in occupational safety and health legislation that takes into cognizance current technological advancements and the challenges of globalisation.

This has necessitated the need for government in collaboration with organised labour and other stakeholders to formulate the policy.