The alarm clock drones incessantly and signals the dawn of a new day. It is a Friday and the weekend looms pleasantly in sight. After a quick shower and breakfast bite, it is time to drive the way to Edgar Ferro Street, in Pietà, and start a new day, wondering what it will have in store for the Occupational Health and Safety Authority officer.
A quick meeting at reception to collect any messages, exchange evening news and wish each other a good day. It is office work time.
Following an inspection yesterday, the issues discussed at the particular workplace are put in writing and mailed to the person concerned. In this case, various shortcomings were noted, included the basic issues of carrying out a risk assessment and having an elected or appointed workers' health and safety representative. In line with the latest policy, OHS officers are now focusing on health and safety management systems rather than identifying the risks for the employer concerned. Deadlines are set and the employer is asked to inform the OHSA immediately the law breaches are rectified.
The telephone rings and it is an enquiry from a worker. In the course of the conversation it emanates that there is an industrial dispute at the workplace and the issue of health and safety is being used as a bargaining chip. It is a very unfortunate case as the whole point of safeguarding occupational health and safety is totally missed. In spite of this, the complaint is lodged in the respective file containing the endless list of inspections to be carried out. With only 10 OHS officers (including managers) available to cater for all the workplaces in Malta and Gozo, it is a daunting task to carry out inspections even on a reactive basis.
Another caller has a very genuine request. It seems the employer is refusing to provide workers with appropriate personal protective equipment and instructing them to purchase their own. This is indeed illegal. The employer has to safeguard the occupational health and safety of his employees and attempt to eliminate hazards, reduce risks to a minimum and take collective measures to safeguard the workers. Should collective measures not be possible, then personal protective equipment should be provided. Various other issues are raised in the course of the conversation and the case is deemed so urgent that an inspection will be carried out on the day.
While he's on the line, he misses a call from a person who has phoned to thank the officer for the assistance the caller received from the OHSA regarding his workplace. The receptionist relays the message to the officer and, although he does not expect pats on the back, such message is indeed welcome and considered to be very encouraging.
Immediately afterwards another caller complains about a crane blocking the road where he lives and says he cannot go through. He also claims that the crane is very heavy and the street cannot take such a weight, and that the work is being carried out illegally. These issues do not fall within the competence of the OHSA. The caller is frustrated because it seems he has already called other entities and was referred to the OHSA. This is, regrettably, not new to the OHS officer as the safety watchdog has become the "civic amenity point" of certain entities that, for some reason, refer cases that fall within their competence to it. The officer refers the caller to the correct entities.
In between calls, the OHS officer issues a stop order on the operations of a dangerous lift that has not been inspected and certified by a competent engineer. The order will be delivered in person and it would be ascertained that the lift is switched off and notices about its dangerous state put up on each floor before the officer leaves the workplace.
The officer laments with his colleague who accompanied him on the inspection how some employers do not heed the letters and deadlines issued by the OHSA and so sometimes have to be taken to court.
On the way to the OHSA offices, a couple of inspections are carried out. One of them is a construction site which the officers come across by chance. The total lack of health and safety measures and imminent danger of an accident stops them on their tracks.
Discussing the issues with the person responsible on site turns very negative with the person concerned offending and threatening the officers. Police assistance is sought and the necessary information is finally compiled. A stop order is issued immediately in this case because the peril is evident.
Back at the office, this would need to be recorded in detail and follow-up action taken. It might in fact lead to court action should the employer not heed the instructions given out or refrain from abiding by the occupational health and safety law.
Following this incident, the OHSA officers reminisce about the team-building day the staff held recently. It was a very positive experience which brought the staff closer together in a relaxing environment and which definitely lived up to its aims of team-building.
As they are driving, the officers notice a self-employed plasterer working on the façade of a residential home. His scaffolding is set up in the right way and he is wearing all the appropriate personal protective equipment and heeding all safe practices. This is such a pleasant and unusual sight that the officers stop to talk to the person and commend him for his work practice.
The mobile phone rings to alert the officer that an accident has taken place and a person had lost an arm. The officers drive to the site and an investigation is carried out to determine the cause of the accident. It transpires that the worker was operating a machine in a manufacturing firm and in a bid to increase production, the safety devices were removed from the machines.
The worker's arm got caught by the machine and it was totally crushed and eventually amputated. Immediate action by the colleagues saved the worker's life but he will have to face the rest of his life with a permanent disability. The machine also sustained damage and will have to be repaired or replaced. The accident victim and his colleagues present on site are interviewed as part of the investigation. The employer will face criminal charges in court over negligence and breach of OHSA legislation.
It is by now past sunset, way past the official working hours, however the OHSA officers still return to the office to compile their accident report, make an appointment with the lawyers and set the ball rolling for the case to be initiated.
The officer knows that on Monday he will be carrying out training and, thus, part of the weekend will be dedicated to revising the material once again and preparing for the lecture. He knows that more paperwork and phone messages will be waiting for him once he gets back to the office on Monday.
As he drives home, he notices with dejection more lack of health and safety practices on other sites. He knows it is impossible to stop at all of them, otherwise he will never make it back home to his hard-earned dinner.
Even though his day feels like a drop in a big ocean, every journey starts with the first step. And many steps have already been taken. As he drifts off to the land of dreams, the OHSA officer looks back on his day. If only more people would take occupational health and safety more seriously! There would be fewer accidents, less misery, lower costs for the employer, lower costs for the government... If only...
The author is a senior manager at OHSA.