Culture change in occupational health and safety

The Gozo Business Chamber and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany organised a seminar with the theme How to instigate culture change in Occupational Health and Safety A German perspective. The seminar was held on 12 October at the University of Malta, Gozo Campus.

The president of The Gozo Business Chamber, Joseph Borg, in his opening address thanked Ambassador Designate Walter Hassmann for his presence. Borg emphasised how the business environment is continually evolving.

Following the opening address, a panel discussion was held, chaired by Michael Galea, vice-president of the GBC. In his introductory remarks, Galea thanked Olaf Reike for supporting this seminar. He also emphasised on how the Gozo Business Chamber seeks to continually improve the Gozitan business environment.

The members of the panel were the following:

• Dr Ulrike Bollman (head of International Cooperation, Institute of Work and Health ( IAG) of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV));

• Alfred Lia who graduated from the University of Malta in Occupational Health and Safety. He has vast experience in this sector and also worked with different organisations. He heads the Occupational Health and Safety section of the GWU; • Saviour Farrugia, senior manager at

OHSA; and

• Perit Godwin Sultana – Directorate Projects and Development, Ministry for Gozo

The event delved into several aspects of health and safety, mostly at a local level. In addition, the seminar held a panel discus- sion with a number of speakers namely from OHSA Malta, the GWU and the Ministry for Gozo. A keynote speech was delivered by Dr Ulrike Bollman.

All through the seminar the speakers highlighted that local employers need to understand the benefits of attaining adequate levels of Occupational Health and Safety.

From this seminar it became clear that to facilitate compliance, employers in Gozo wish to have:

• More guidelines that explain measures

that need to be taken;

• Development of more electronic tools for risk assessment, which will facilitate compliance by duty holders; and

• More meaningful involvement from social partners

Although more electronic tools for risk assessment are in the pipeline by the OHSA, members present agreed that this process needs to be speeded up.

The Gozo Business Chamber strongly advocates better regulations, without reducing the levels of occupational health and safety in any way. Bureaucratic and overly complicated procedures will result in employers who will find it difficult or next to impossible to comprehend and ultimately implement. Therefore, without reducing health and safety standards, the procedures need to be revised and made more process and user-friendly. As a business-oriented organisation, the GBC strongly believes that improvement in health and safety can be achieved through education and incentivisation as opposed to punitive action.

The Gozo Business Chamber’s main role is that of representing Gozitan businesses and employers.