Both injury and fatal rates have been significantly reduced but a great deal of work still needs to be done.

In view of the editorial titled ‘Decent work is safe work’ (January 14), the Occupational Health and Safety Authority feels it opportune to clarify a number of issues. The OHSA is an entity established by the Occupational Health and Safety Authority Act XXVII of 2000 and is vested with a number of functions. These functions are translated into a whole range of activities with the role of monitoring and enforcement of occupational health and safety legislation being only one of the regulator’s core functions.

Ever since its establishment, the OHSA has embarked on an intensive information and awareness campaign with the aim of fostering a risk-preventive culture. This commitment is evidenced through its actions and initiatives, which include but are not limited to seminars, press releases, leaflets, guidance documents and checklists, all of which address various aspects of health and safety at work.

Added to this, one should also mention the vast array of information that is prepared by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-Osha) (even in Maltese), which is freely available to all who require it.

Thus, lack of knowledge in occupational health and safety can no longer be used as an excuse to justify non-compliance. It is for this reason that the OHSA mentioned that it is considering raising applicable penalties in line with public recommendations already made by several social partners.

Healthier and safer workplaces can only be achieved if all duty holders fulfil their legal obligations

The editorial commented that “the OHSA needs to look into the modern risks that office workers face on a daily basis”. Such remarks give the impression that the OHSA is not aware of the risks that may be present in office work environments. This comes as a surprise when considering the fact that the OHSA has already pointed out such concern through an article that appeared on Times of Malta last October 5 titled ‘Maltese workplace has improved’.

The article indicated noted that, despite being considered as low-risk places, offices still present a number of risks that must be addressed through a detailed risk management approach.

Moreover, the OHSA, in collaboration with EU-Osha, has recently launched the ‘Online interactive risk assessment’ (OiRA) tool, which deals exclusively with risks found in an office environment. This was also featured in The Sunday Times of Malta last December 28.

OiRA is an online risk assessment tool that facilitates the process of risk assessment. Though it was principally designed to assist small and micro enterprises, it can be used by anyone interested in identifying and assessing the risks that may be present at the place of work.

OiRA is free of charge and can be accessed online at http://www.oiraproject.eu/.

Healthier and safer workplaces can only be achieved if all duty holders fulfil their legal obligations. Such action needs the involvement of all stakeholders. This is being said in view of the common misconception that the OHSA is the sole stakeholder in improving the level of occupational health and safety in Malta.

While recognising the improvement in the level of occupational health and safety in Malta, where both injury and fatal rates have been significantly reduced, a great deal of work still needs to be done by other duty holders. The OHSA has developed the necessary tools and means for achieving compliance; it is up to duty holders and stakeholders to make use of them for the benefit of enterprises, workers and society in general.

Melhino Mercieca is the OHSA’s senior manager, communications and PR.