OUTDATED POLICIES
Workplace safety regulations last revised in 1974
The government has been urged to improve regulations in the occupational health, safety and environment (OSHE) fraternity.
This follows this week’s incident in Moshupa, where two employees of Unik Construction died and one was injured at an on-site project.
The regulations and policies that are currently being used date back to 1974, and include the Factories Act, and other supporting regulatory instruments, policies and bodies, which environment compliance monitoring specialist, Pako Molepa says need to be reviewed.
Molepa adds that the OSHE fraternity requires key regulation because it relates to the safety and wellness of workers.
“The development of revised and improved OSHE and regulatory frameworks are critical in addressing the new OSHE challenges that we are faced with in current times. “Botswana is currently operating with an outdated instrument that does not speak to the current climate,
and furthermore, does not have stringent penalties for organisations that do not abide by the regulations. “The current policies and regulations in place are not compelling enough and do not resonate with prioritising the safety and protection in the workplace, particularly in relation to sensitive work such as construction, where safety is of critical importance. “It is important for Government to put measures in place to ensure that companies and organisations are forced to invest in critical security measures, and that they abide by the OSHE.”
He adds that it is equally important to ensure that stakeholders in both the private and public sector fully understand the regulations and abide by them, citing this year’s World Safety Day theme, ‘Act together to build a positive safety and health culture’. He says that the death of two people is ‘one too many’ and it is important to implement precaution instead of going through unfortunate incidents first. He urges all stakeholders including Government, employers and public health and safety operatives in the OSHE processes to be at the forefront of transitioning to improved safety regulations and pressing Government to revise the instruments used to ensure that organisations are safety compliant, and that there are stiff penalties for organisations that do not abide by safety protocols. The current occupational health and safety laws and policies in Botswana are regulated by various legislative instruments that include the Factories Act; Agrochemicals Act; the Mines, Quarries Works and Machinery Act; Radiation Protection Act and the Workers Compensation Act, all which provide stipulation by law for organisations to abide by the regulations that implement the provision of safety, health and welfare of persons employed in factories, mines and on construction on-sites, and other places and that the safety of all workers is prioritised at all times. In cases where there are injuries on work or site, workers are liable for compensation from the injuries or whatever infected diseases. The regulations of safety, health and welfare of workers are also in line with the Employment Act.