Competitiveness influenced by occupational health and safety

A low level of occupational health and safety can have negative consequences on competitiveness at both national and enterprise level.

A study conducted by the World Economic Forum and the International Labour Organisation (ILO/SafeWork), which compared the competitiveness of 31 industrial and developing countries, clearly shows that better safety and health standards equal better national productivity.

The results indicate that a low number of fatal occupational accidents and high competitiveness are directly proportional, making the most competitive economies register the lowest number of fatal accidents.

Countries such as Switzerland, with just over three fatal occupational accidents per 100,000 employees, are not only among the best countries with the highest standards of occupational health and safety, but are also among the most competitive national economies in the world.

Based on this study, Malta, with an average annual fatality index of 4.6, would indicate a lower competitive index than a number of EU member states, demonstrating that there is still room for improvement in this sector.

The ILO further argues that a high level of occupational health and safety should also be prevalent in the informal economy, since there is evidence that even here, it also contributes positively to productivity.

OHS information online

Last year, Malta scored second among countries accessing OHS information from the website of the European Agency for Safety and Health at work, second only to Luxembourg. These figures were obtained using a formula that takes into consideration the size of the country and the level of Internet penetration.

This clearly shows that there is a greater awareness about occupational health and safety in Malta, and that apart from requesting information by phone or e-mail, people access information online as well.

These results complement others obtained by the Maltese Occupational Health and Safety Authority, which also maintains its own website with myriad information (www.ohsa.org.mt). Visits to this website also mirror the trends noted in the European Agency's study and the great demand for information prevalent on the island.

Indeed, in the period October 2006-September 2007, a total of 738,000 hits were registered by the Maltese website, an average of more than 2,000 hits daily. The number of hits increased by 160,000 over the same period the previous year, indicating clearly that this tool is being used extensively.

"We are very happy that people are asking for information, since this reflects a keener interest. This augurs well for the country, its industries and employees, since there is a direct link between a good standard of OHS and competitiveness," Mark Gauci, CEO of the OHSA, said.

"As we have reiterated many times, it is only through a concerted effort that we can register clear progress in putting occupational health and safety high on both the national and individual agenda."

For more information, visit the OHSA premises at 17 Edgar Ferro Street, Pietà, e-mail ohsa@gov.mt or fax 2123 2909.