Safety literacy should start at school level, says expert
“In case of a machine breakdown, there are spare parts, but it’s not so for the human b o dy, ” r e f l e c t s D r. C h a m p i k a Amarasinghe, Director General, N at i o n a l Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Speaking to the Sunday Times on the eve of ‘ National Occupational Safety and Health Week’ which will be inaugurated on October 9, Dr. Amarasinghe urges ‘safety at work place’ to be an all- embracing concept. “It is not an industry-related phenomena alone, contrary to the common belief here at home, but a fundamental to be followed at every working place.”
Occupational health hazards are not just life threatening falls or high degree burns but even every-day exposures we take for granted such as to the air conditioner, the office chair and the positioning of the computer screen that would impact our health. Given the ‘static environment’ of an ‘ office’, mobility of the workforce is less. ‘Some tend to eat before their computer screens, which is conducive to stress levels,' points out Dr. Amarasinghe who notes the occupational hazards an eight- hour work shift entails cannot be ignored.
The theme of this year’s National Occupational Safety and Health Week ‘Prevent occupational injuries and return home safe’ aims to create occupational health and safety literacy with the objective of minimizing work-re- lated injuries. The programme which will be inaugurated with a pilot school project in Sri Piyarathana Central College, Padukka, will be followed by the National Conference on October 11.
“Safety is not in our culture,” observes the Community Medicine Specialist who raises concerns about safety precautions adopted within the school environment. “Safety literacy should start at school level, raising awareness about best practices within the laboratory and even at play, which is why this year’s Safety Week begins with a school project,” says Dr. Amarasinghe, adding that the pilot project will be expanded to other areas. Schools from industrial- intense zones have already been earmarked for the project.
The ILO (International Labour Organisation) Constitution stipulates that workers should be pro- tected from sickness, disease and injury arising from their employment. Yet for millions the reality is very different. An estimated 2.3 million people, according to ILO statistics, die every year from work- related accidents and diseases. More than 160 million people suffer from occupational and work-related diseases, and there are 313 million non-fatal accidents per year. The suffering caused by such accidents and illnesses to workers and their families is incalculable. In economic terms, the ILO has estimated that more than 4% of the world's annual GDP is lost as a consequence of occupational accidents and diseases. Employers face costly early retirements, loss of skilled staff, absenteeism, and high insurance premiums due to work- related accidents and diseases. Many of these tragedies are preventable through the implementation of sound prevention, reporting and inspection practices. ILO standards on occupational safety and health provide essential tools for governments, employers, and workers to establish such practices and to provide for maximum safety at work.
While the Factories Ordinance provides legal provisions for occupational safety and health here at home, the National Policy initiated in 2014, further solidifies the measures. Occupational safety and health literacy however, still remain distant to the public, notes Dr. Amarasinghe who urges organisations to create more awareness on the same. “How many employees are aware of the fire exits and how to use fire extinguishers?” questions Dr. Amarasinghe who also lobbies for increased safety measures for workers exposed to high noise levels and drivers who are often deprived of proper meals and sleeping quarters when travelling. “Very often they are forced to sleep inside vehicles, making them prone to posture- related issues.”
NIOSH works closely with regional counterparts and advocates for international guidelines among local organisations including the construction sector. The National Conference which will take place during the Safety Week will draw international speakers and local specialists in different occupational categories. Several industries will also present their best practices. Participants of the National Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health will receive their certificates on the same day.
The presence of a Safety and Health Officer although mandatory by law at construction sites, is not often adhered to in reality, other than by the established big players, says Dr. Amarasinghe. The Certificate Course designed by the NIOSH especially targeting employers and employees of the construction sector which is now booming, aims to strengthen safety measures and thereby mitigate the occupational hazards in the industry. With a fast ageing population, occupational safety and healthy should become a priority, observes Dr. Amarasinghe. “With non-communicable diseases on the rise, we cannot afford to carry the double burden of occupational injuries and disabilities,” she says.