Safety training for employees stressed

The Occupational Health and Safety Authority noted that while many employers specifed their need for experienced workers in their vacancies, they were overlooking their legal obligations of offering training to the employees in the area of occupational health and safety.

OHSA would like all employers to note that failure to provide relevant and ongoing training would be considered as a serious wilful violation of the law and offenders would be prosecuted by OHSA.

Those employers who did not fulfil this obligation would be considered as putting their employees in a situation where there was a substantial probability that either death or serious physical harm could result, OHSA said

"We simply cannot allow anymore such flagrant disregard for occupational health and safety where workers are placed in hazardous and potentially life-threatening work conditions due to their lack of training.

"Employers should ensure that employees are adequately instructed and trained in safe systems of work, including safe ways to carry out their work, the use of equipment or substances, the use of health and safety control measures and of personal protective equipment as well as on reporting and emergency procedures, among others.

"This is one case in point where one really trains for life - in its literal sense," Mark Gauci, chief executive officer of OHSA said.

He added that one sector where this legal provision was blatantly contravened was in the construction sector, which not surprisingly, claimed the highest number of lives every year and where occupational accidents were still very widespread.

"This is unacceptable. Enough leeway has been allowed for all employers to pull their socks up and put their house in order. We cannot continue sacrificing human life, irrespective of the reasons. OHSA will take a very strict approach when dealing with these issues and will take appropriate action against all those who contravene the law," Dr Gauci warned.