The Gozo Business Chamber and the German Embassy organised a seminar on ‘how to instigate culture change in occupational health and safety – a German perspective’ at the University Gozo Campus, Xewkija.

Opening the seminar, chamber president Joseph Borg spoke on the importance that the business community be always at the forefront of the business health and safety culture since the environment was continually evolving.

Chamber vice president Michael Galea, who chaired a discussion meeting made up of business exponents said the Gozo Business Chamber “seeks to continually improve the Gozitan business environment”. The meeting delved into several aspects of health and safety.

A keynote speech was delivered by Ulrike Bollman, who heads the International Cooperation, Institute for Work and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance. Other speakers highlighted the fact that employers need to understand the benefits of attaining adequate levels of occupational health and safety. 

Participants at the seminar stressed that to facilitate compliance, employers need to have access to guidelines that explain the measures that need to be taken. They also felt the need to develop more electronic tools for risk assessment which will facilitate compliance by duty holders. Another important thing was a more meaningful involvement from social partners.

They also stressed that although more electronic tools for risk assessment were in the pipeline by the Occupational Health and Safety Authority, this process must be speeded up.