The eagerly awaited health and safety reform remains elusive more than nine months after the Paqpaqli car accident.

The government pledged to overhaul “outdated and conflicting” health and safety legislation after some 28 people were injured when a supercar spun out of control and drove into a crowd during last October’s Paqpaqli għall-Istrina charity motor show.

The Paqpaqli car accident last October. Photo: Steve Zammit Lupi

The accident, which preceded another health and safety fiasco in a Paceville nightclub the following month, exposed several gaps in the national health and safety sector. Among the issues flagged was the need to reform the Occupational Health and Safety Authority – broadening its remit to encompass general public safety, rather than solely that at the workplace.

Social Dialogue Minister Helena Dalli was tasked with overseeing the possible reform, however when asked for an update she said this was still being looked into “internally”.

Asbestos sheets are still listed as an anti-fire precaution

A report was drafted by OHSA head Mark Gauci last December, but its recommendations have not yet been implemented. Instead, a spokesman for Dr Dalli said a working group on health and safety at public events had been appointed and public consultation held.

The working group, the spokesman said, had not been idle and did come up with a way forward. However, its recommendations were not implemented.

The spokesman said these were being analysed and discussed by the government. Questions sent to the Office of the Prime Minister on whether a deadline for the reform had been set had not been answered by the time of writing.

In December, Dr Gauci said his investigation into the current safety legislation showed a “piecemeal approach” in need of review.

This was particularly clear when it came to fire safety, where among other issues, poisonous asbestos sheets were still listed as an anti-fire precaution in public events.

The best solution, he said, would be the handing over of responsibility to one body, rather than spreading it across several different entities as was the case at the moment.

Legislative reforms are also needed. For instance, Malta still has no comprehensive Fire Safety Act, something introduced in most other European countries decades ago.