45 workers die on duty

FORTY-FIVE workers died in over 500 occupational related incidents the Workers Compensation Fund Control Board (WCFCB) recorded in the third quarter of 2017, corporate affairs manager Maybin Nkolomba has disclosed.

And the board has recorded an increase in the number of beneficiaries to 19, 603 due to the increase in occupational accidents.

Mr. Nkolomba said at the close of the quarter, a total of 508 cases were recorded, the majority being in the mining and construction sectors.

He added that the board also recorded a high number of occupational illnesses in the iron and steel industries.

“The board is concerned with the number of occupational accidents and illnesses, which have been on the increase and they have remained consistently high. We are still in the third quarter as an institution as the full year has not elapsed.

“”Mining and construction have registered considerably high numbers of incidents and illnesses. With such high numbers, we anticipate an increase in the number of beneficiaries,” he said.

Mr. Nkolomba said the board was pursuing alternative solutions to ensure lives were safe guarded at work places.

He explained that one approach WCFCB had taken was to emphasise on preventive measures because a lot of occupation accidents were preventable.

“We are saying all accidents are preventable and we are engaging stakeholders to work with us…we are coming up with alternatives to be implemented in 2018,” he said.