It gives me much pleasure to be amongst you, this morning, on the occasion of the opening ceremony of this ‘Training of Trainers Workshop on “Risk Assessment and Introduction to Occupational Safety and Health Management’ organised by the Mauritius Employers Federation in collaboration with the ILO.
I am informed that the objectives of the workshop are to train participants in the area of risk assessment in line with the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 2005 and to introduce the Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems concept.
I am pleased to note that two eminent experts from the ILO, namely Mr. Pavan Baichoo, Technical Officer, Occupational Safety, International Programme on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment, Safework and Mr. Franklin Muchiri, Senior Occupational Safety and Health Specialist will be the resource persons for the workshop and let me take this opportunity to extend a special welcome to them and wish them a pleasant stay in the country.
Globalisation, intense competition and technological progress are leading to fast changing working environment and eventually to new emerging workplace hazards. All these, result in a lot of pressure on all stakeholders in the world of work, including workers, employers and also on the enforcing authority. And in this context, I wish to thank and congratulate the Mauritius Employers Federation for its laudable initiative in organising this important workshop for its members and occupational safety and health professionals from the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health Management.
In this dynamic working environment, Safety and Health Officers have also a key role to play in the development and promotion of a safety and health culture at the enterprise level and I have no doubt that such training programme will enhance their skills and knowledge towards achieving these objectives.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act 2005, which came into force on 01 September 2007, prescribes specific duties for Safety and Health Officers. They are inter-alia required to assess the need for preventive measures to safeguard the safety and health of employees; advise the employer in writing on practicable measures and appropriate techniques to be implemented to minimise any risk in any process in the undertaking of his employer; design and implement appropriate training programmes, inspect all places of work, exercise adequate supervision to ensure the effective implementation of any arrangement made and enquire into complaints and occupational accidents and recommend in writing any safety and health measures to be implemented by the employer.
The employment of Safety and Health Officers is therefore of major importance in attaining high standards of safety and health at workplaces and promoting safe conduct of work. Given the wide range and complex nature of their duties, the need for continuous and appropriate professional training in various fields of occupational safety and health cannot be thus over-emphasised with the assistance of technical experts.
The Occupational Safety & Health Act 2005 provides for every employer to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of any risk to the safety and health to which any employee is exposed whilst he is at work for the purpose of identifying the measures he needs to implement. Any such assessment shall be reviewed by the employer not later than two years after any assessment or earlier where there has been a significant change in the matters to which it relates. Where an employer employs more than five persons, the significant findings of any assessment should be recorded. This workshop comes at an appropriate time as it will be a forum where you will strengthen further your knowledge by sharing your experiences and also learning new techniques from the two resources persons.
My Ministry is fully aware of the importance of occupational safety and health management system and risk assessment in an enterprise as a means to move forward in further improving the existing occupational safety and health environment. In this context, my Ministry is coming up with guidelines on Risk Assessment. This document is being prepared at the level of the Advisory Council for Occupational Safety and Health, a statutory body set up under the Act.
It has also been well established that an Occupational Safety and Health Management System in an enterprise is an important element in managing occupational safety and health at the enterprise. The employer has the responsibility and duty to ensure the safety and health of his employees and the implementation of an occupational safety and health management system is one useful approach in fulfilling this duty. The employer should show strong leadership and commitment to occupational safety and health activities in the organisation and make appropriate arrangements for the establishment of an occupational safety and health management system. The basic principles of an occupational safety and health management system are: -
(a) the preparation of an Occupational Safety and Health policy, through consultation with workers and organising resources for implementation of the policy;
(b) the allocation of responsibilities and accountability, ensuring competence of resources through training, documentation of Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems and establishing adequate communication related to Occupational Safety and Health;
(c) the planning and implementation of the Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems;
(d) evaluation through performance monitoring and measurement, auditing, investigation of accident, disease, incidents and review of procedures; and
(e) taking actions for improvement of Occupational Safety and Health.
In fact, the law provides that every employer of 50 or more employees shall make a written statement of his policy with respect to the safety and health of his employees and provide such resources, as appropriate, having regard to the nature of his activities and size of his undertaking for the effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review of the preventive and protective measures required to be taken by him under the Act. Moreover, every employer shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure the safety, health and welfare at work of all his employees. The employer should also provide and maintain a working environment that is safe and without risks to health.
This government has pledged to ‘put people first’ and we share the belief of the ILO that the right to life is the most fundamental right and that workers’ protection against work-related accidents and illnesses is one of their fundamental rights. That is why we have come up with such a comprehensive and modern piece of legislation on occupational safety and health.
I sincerely believe that besides a strong legislative framework, training of the workforce to build a long-lasting safety and health culture is very important. My Ministry conducts regular training programmes for employers and their representatives and for workers from different economic sectors, including high risk sectors.
We are fully aware of the need to have adequate resources for an effective enforcement of the law. In this context, my Ministry is taking necessary measures to recruit additional Occupational Safety and Health Officers so as to provide an effective and efficient service.
Occupational Safety and Health, I believe, should become an integrated function of any business activity. It should not be looked at when “time is available” or when “funds are available”.
I therefore make an earnest appeal to all employers to place occupational safety and health high on their agenda, especially when it comes to high risk sectors such as construction. Workers, as well, should assume their responsibility. Poor health and safety can have negative impact on the employee, his family and also affect the enterprises image and productivity. As Minister, I will accept no compromises at all on matters pertaining to safety and health of workers. Any breach of the Occupational Safety and Health legislation will be dealt with very seriously and severely by my Ministry.
I again seize this opportunity to make an appeal to all stakeholders to put our efforts together so as to ensure a safer, and healthier working environment for our fellow workers.
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