national policy on Occupational Health and Safety in the offing

By: Benjamin Xornam Glover, TEMA A national policy on Occupational Health and Safety has been formulated and would soon be submitted to cabinet for approval. The proposed policy aims at institutionalizing occupational safety and health by extending access to safety and health information, knowledge and skills at all levels of the educational systems and all workplaces. The Deputy Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Mr Antwi-Boasiako Sekyere disclosed this at Tema during a ceremony to commemorate the 2014 World Day for Safety and Health at Work. The celebration which was organize d by the Bureau of Public Safety also witnessed the launching of the National Safety Council and swearing in of a five member Governing Board of the NSC, Ghana . Mr Sekyere said it was the belief of government that preventing accidents at workplace through education by introducing the Occupational Safety and Health concept in school curricula and the education system in general will help form an effective and sustainable preventive safety culture on a continuous basis. Transformation He said the new national policy also seeks to transform the Department of Factories Inspectorate into an authority managed by a National Commission on Occupational Safety and Health adding that the new authority when it come into being will bring together under one umbrella all fragmented workplace interventions on occupational safety. He said the transformation of the Factories Inspectorate Department into an Authority is expected to ensure the safety at all workplaces and health of workers through effective implementation of appropriate occupational safety and health management systems. “The authority will also ensure a compensation system that incorporates rehabilitation and effective risk management for efficient and effective compensation of employees who get injured of suffer from of work” Stakeholder involvement The deputy minister noted that the realization of the better Ghana agenda will require the inputs of workers producing and offering services in safe work environment hence the need for all stakeholders to support the safety and health improvements initiatives at the workplace He called on managers of work places to put in place safety committees comprising of representatives of management and workers to ensure compliance of the occupational safety and health standards. Rebranding The Acting Chief Inspector of Factories, Mr Frederick Ohene-Mensah lauded efforts at rebranding the and resourcing the Department stressing that the move would help them to meet the challenges of the 21st century and aid them handle the new and emerging occupational risks. He cautioned industry players who have been recalcitrant in the area of safety, health and wellbeing of workers that a team of prosecutors will soon descend on those employers and prosecute them. He disclosed the that the exercise has commenced in the Ashanti Region and the Greater Accra Region adding that the Tema Metropolis will soon feel the heat of the prosecutors. Threat of prosecution He particularly warned occupiers operating steam boilers /air receivers and lifting appliances who have refused to engage certified engineers /surveyors to undertake statutory examination of these dangerous and hazardous equipment will be summoned before the law court. Mr Senyo Adjabeng, a Labour Consultant called for the delinking of Occupational Health and Safety arguing the current Factories, Offices and Shops Act, Act 328 does not focus on the safety aspect of things but rather places emphasis on issues of sanitation. He also called for the empowerment of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembly to enable then enforce law. He said that way, all industries including small and medium enterprises that are looking more at maximizing profits rather that ensuring the safety of workers will not flout the laws. Public Safety Bureau The Executive Director of the Public Safety Bureau, Nana Yaw Akwada speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic said the National Safety Council, Ghana which governing board was inaugurated will be an association of safety, health and environmental practitioners from across industries. He explained that the terms of reference for interim governing board will be to determine criteria for admission of members into the council determine the standards and levels for certification and develop a Code of Ethics and Professional conduct for discussion and adoption and also explore affiliation with other national safety councils across the globe. The interim governing board of the NSC, Ghana is made up of Mr Steven Ankamah Lomotey, Metropolitan Factory Inspector, Mr William Blankson, Chief Fire Officer, Tema , Chief Superintendent Ebenezer Ampofo, Ghana Police Service, Mr Simon Opoku Amankwa, and Nana Yaw Akwada, Executive Dierector, Public Safety Bureau.