The Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin is demanding tougher action where occupational health and safety is concerned, calling for more concrete measures so that fewer workers are injured at the workplace.

The Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) should ensure such incidents are prevented, it said, calling for harsher penalties for those who breach the law.

The union was commenting in the wake of industrial accidents over the past few days, when workers were seriously injured or were victims of occupational accidents, particularly in construction.

The accidents did not occur by chance but were the result of lack of training and necessary equipment or excessive confidence, the UĦM said. It stressed the importance of training workers so that they would have the ability to do their jobs without putting themselves in danger.

The responsibility of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority should not stop at the issuing of permits but, in collaboration with the OHSA and the Building Industry Consultative Committee, would check that basic safety measures as stipulated by law were implemented on every construction site.