Low fund, managerial commitment affecting safety at work protocols

Low fund, managerial commitment affecting safety at work protocols

By Nelson Kessy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lack of funds, poor cooperation from employers and the general low level of understanding are affecting implementation of occupational health and safety protocols at workplaces, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OSHA) has said.

Also, of all the zones in the country, Dar es Salaam Region is the most un-complacent one, contravening the Occupational Health and Safety Act No.5 of 2003, which requires registration of employees with the organisation.

“Statistics show that in Dar es Salaam, about 70 per cent of business and institutions have not yet registered their employees with Occupation and Health Safety (OHS),” Alex Ngata, Chief Executive OSHA said.

Speaking to press in Dar es Salaam over the weekend at the ongoing public service week celebrations been held at the Mnazi Mmoja grounds in the city, he revealed that only 10,000 out of 60,000 working institutions have agreed to register with the authority.

"Since the primary objective of OSHA is to ensure creation and maintenance of ideal work environs, which are free from occupational hazards that may cause injuries or illness to employees, the government needs to allocate more funds to the authority so that we can provide awareness to the general public," Ngata noted.

The authority is now operating across six zones of the country, the coastal, central, lake, north, south and the high land southern zones.
According to Ngata, small and medium entrepreneurs in the country still need education towards this program of occupational Health and Safety, because they are working in dangerous environments. Since they will be registered to this authority it will help to reduce cases of work injuries.

OSHA is planning to introduce Occupation and Health Safety (OHS) for contractors in order to ensure safety of workers at construction sites.
The move goes alongside the introduction of green cards to construction workers, as to minimize hazards that may cause injury or illness to employees on construction sites. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN