Number of workplace deaths drops from 5 to 1 per 100,000 workers – OHSA chief

The number of workplace deaths has decreased from five per 100,000 in 2002 to less than one per 100,000 workers over the 15 years since the Occupational Health and Safety Authority was set up, chief executive officer Mark Gauci said.

Interviewed by The Malta Independent online editor Stephen Calleja on Indepth, Gauci said that this can be described as a success story. Before the inception of the OHSA, little was said about health and safety issues and, worse than this, initially there was opposition to the introduction of measures to safeguard workers’ health. Matters have fortunately changed and nowadays, the awareness that has been raised has resulted in fewer accidents at work.

What irritates the OHSA chief is that often the authority is blamed for matters for which it is not responsible. The OHSA works within established parameters and it is often other entities who should be held accountable when accidents happen.

Health and safety issues have become so ingrained in our society that fingers are pointed at the OHSA each time something happens, when it is other entities who should be liable, Gauci said.

The CEO said that it is impossible for the OHSA to be present at all workplaces at all times, and urged collaboration from the public when health and safety infringements are noticed.

Indepth will be uploaded on www.independent.com.mt today