OHS Workplace Audit Targets Five Industries

This is to gauge the level of compliance at the workplace levels.

Workplace audits were conducted with five industries namely; Forestry & Fishing, Manufacturing, Construction, Wholesale/Restaurant/Hotels and Transport & Storage.

This was highlighted by Maciu Nalumisa during the World Day for Safety and Health at Work at the Fiji National University lecture theatre in Nadi yesterday.

The Acting Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations said the ministry through the National OHS Service recently conducted workplace audits in late March and early this month at 155 workplaces throughout Fiji.

This is to gauge the level of compliance at the workplace levels

“The workplace audits were conducted to five targeted industries,” he said.

“Furthermore, selected schools, SMEs and the fishing industry were selected to be also part of this workplace audits.”

For the Western Division 52 workplaces from the various industries mentioned were audited.

The minister added that almost every working day throughout Fiji, the ministry OHS trainers’ conducts OHS awareness and training.

“Our OHS field officers inspect and certify plants and equipments, conduct OHS management systems audits, our OHS Risk Engineers conduct non destructive testing of high pressure and load bearing plants and equipments, conducts vetting of building and plant designs and commissions new plants, completed workplaces and capital projects,” he said.

“Our OHS chemist and Occupational Hygienist conduct workplace noise assessment, monitor workplace environmental conditions and carry out hazardous substances and asbestos removals.”

Mr Nalumisa said if OHS proactive and preventative strategies were not done, workplace hazards would turn into risks which could result in workplace incidents that could kill or cause serious injuries to employees. “Incidents that could and should have been prevented by simply complying with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1996 (HASAWA 1996), its associated legislations and regulations, approved standards, codes of practice and best practices.”

An ILO report in 2023 estimates that some 2.3 million women and men around the world succumb to work-related accidents or diseases every year.

“This corresponds to over 6000 deaths every single day. Worldwide, there are around 340 million occupational accidents and 160 million victims of work-related illnesses annually,” he said.