The two recent fatal accidents at the workplace have once again put the issue of health and safety in the limelight. In one case, a man was crushed under the weight of heavy glass panes and in the other, a construction worker fell to his death in Rabat.
The death of a worker in the construction industry is not surprising. Lack of safety measures at construction sites are evident even to the uninitiated in building regulations. Safety gear of any sort is conspicuous by its absence even in workers operating at high risk at very elevated levels.
To add insult to injury, the families of victims of work-related illness, disability, injury or death are too often given woefully inadequate compensation.
As to be expected and with distressing regularity, everybody blames everybody else. There are a number of stakeholders involved. The government is mainly responsible as it must introduce regulations, and what is infinitely more important, ensure that they are observed. In turn, employers are directly responsible for their work force and are obliged to ensure that risks are kept to a minimum. Meanwhile, the trade unions should safeguard the workers' interests and championing a healthy and safe work environment should be high on their agenda.
In the recriminations let loose following these fatalities, Mark Gauci, the CEO of the Occupational Health and Safety Authority, complained that more often than not his unit gets the blame for being undermanned and under funded. In short, it is accused of being largely ineffective. Mr Gauci even went as far as to claim that safety at work is an "afterthought" for unions, which only raise this matter when negotiating new collective agreements, or competing for its members. As to be expected, this was rebutted by both major unions. The GWU secretary general Tony Zarb stressed his union's interest in the construction workers and pointed a finger at the rampant abuse of employers in the industry. Even UĦM general secretary Gejtu Vella emphasised his union's commitment to prod government into upgrading laws governing health and safety as well as having the necessary resources and political will to enforce them.
On the other hand, the workers cannot exonerate themselves from responsibility. Very often, they are negligent and careless and especially in the summer months, reluctant to wear protective clothing. It is unjust to place all the blame, all the time, on employers. Yet, Mr Zarb makes an important point when he bemoans the fact that workers in the construction industry have failed to organise themselves in a union, which would empower them to better look after their interests.
Every avoidable injury and death reflects very poorly on all those responsible. With the use of heavy and complex machinery as well as the increasing use of dangerous and toxic chemicals, the workers need committed and informed representatives who have the skill to win over public opinion to the need of a radical improvement in the current situation.
Although fatal accidents hit the headlines, there are many workers at risk to premature illness, disability and death caused by exposure to unduly injurious and unsanitary environments. Fragmentation of workers makes it more difficult for them to be in a position to understand the hazards they face, let alone demand safer and healthier conditions.
One hopes that the stakeholders involved will realise that safeguarding the health of workers is in the national interest. There is too much at stake to shift blame on each other.