Since the Occupational Health and Safety Authority was set up in 2002, there had been a 50 per cent drop in the number of accidents at the place of work, Helena Dalli, Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties, told Parliament yesterday.
In 2002 there were 3,545 accidents for every 100,000 workers but by last year that number had dwindled to 1,707.
Opening the debate on the financial estimates of the authority, Dr Dalli noted there had only been four deaths at the workplace last year. She underlined, however, that every death was one too many.
She promised that all efforts would be made to reduce industrial accidents, but often these were the result of hasty decisions and human error.
There was always a lot to be done, and it was clear that some sectors, such as construction and the manufacturing industry, were more at risk than others. There needed to be a change in mentality so that safety measures would not be considered as an expense but as an investment.
These were the result of hasty decisions and human error
The OHSA had followed up every complaint registered in the manufacturing industry, and its inspectors had visited more than 1,700 different enterprises. Enforcement was considered to be one of the main roles of the OHSA and 48 cases had ended up in court, with fines imposed.
Complaining that not enough court sittings were being appointed to hear cases of safety infringements, she said there needed to be an overhaul of the fines and procedures.
The Seveso-3 Directive that dealt specifically with the control of on-shore major accident hazards involving dangerous substances was ready and would be published shortly. The directive on radiation would be implemented next year.
Minister Dalli said children needed to be educated in schools about safety at the workplace so they would grow up with the mentality that they would not accept unsafe working conditions.
The OHSA mascot, known as Napo, had worked so well with children that it was also being adopted by other EU member states.
Sometimes workers did not even know what their rights were when it came to safety regulations at work. The culture of “anything goes” had to be eradicated, she stressed.
The OHSA had worked hand in hand with local councils, the Chamber of Engineers, the Richmond Foundation, the University and other social partners to organise awareness activities on the importance of health and wellbeing at the place of work.
OHSA chairman and Labour MP Deo Debattista replied to questions raised by Opposition MPs. Answering Clyde Puli, he said that the OHSA would employ new officials in 2015 and there were the necessary financial allocation. Though certain initiatives had to stop because of turnover of people, they would recommence in the near future.
The government used the same system on positions of trust that was used by preceding PN administrations, he also said. The OHSA’s board members had been appointed by another minister and were retained by Minister Dalli. The composition of the board would come in line with the law when the term of office of the present board ended and a new one was appointed.
The European Commission had delayed publishing the European strategy on occupational health and safety by two years and the national strategy was nearly ready: it would be launched by the OHSA soon.
Answering issues raised by Claudette Buttigieg, Dr Debattista said the OHSA had launched a national framework on the control of stress at the place of work. It would strengthen its approach and would employ a psychologist this year or in 2016.
Answering questions by Ryan Callus, Dr Debattista said certain issues in the construction sector were a matter of concern for the Building Regulation Office and not for the OHSA.
It was true that asbestos caused lung cancer and one could be affected even 40 years after being exposed. Regulations in this regard were published in 2003.
The OHSA could not intervene with regard to asbestos found in an abandoned company’s site, especially since the building was locked. However, the government removed large quantities of asbestos from the Gozo General Hospital.