Workers Compensation embarks on Vision Zero ( VZ) campaign
One of the ways to reduce accidents in the world of work is through the promotion of health and fitness programmes.
Health at work and healthy work environments are among the most valuable assets of individuals, communities and countries.
Occupational health is an important strategy not only to ensure the health of workers, but also to contribute positively to productivity, quality of products, work motivation, job satisfaction and thereby to the overall quality of life of individuals and society.
Workers’ Compensation Fund Control Board WCFCB) recently partnered with International Social Security Association to promote the Vision Zero global campaign.
The campaign targets to reduce occupational accidents and diseases to zero by 2030; a world of work that is free of accidents if you like.
Vision Zero is an International Social Security Association (ISSA) initiative for achieving a global action of prevention. Vision Zero is a paradigm shift from faulting to solutions to prevent injuries and ill-health at work. Vision zero is premised on the following principles: -
1. Life is not negotiable
• Basic human right: right to life and physical integrity.
• Nothing is more important than life.
2. People make mistakes
Mistakes will happen.
• Human error is part of human functioning.
• Mistakes should never cost lives.
3. The ability to cope with physical and mental pressure is crucial
Work environments, machines, roads should minimize risks, injuries and provide safety assistance to users.
4. Situational prevention comes first
• Adapting work environments to suit users, not users to suit the work environments.
• Situational prevention; shared risks and responsibilities.
• Workers to obey rules; systems must be designed with safety in mind.
World statistics on occupational accidents and diseases as compiled by the international labour organization (ILO) indicate that at least two million workers die as a result of work related accidents annually across the world. although statistics in Zambia appear to be grossly under reported, there are at least an average of one thousand, twenty-seven (1,027) accidents and diseases reported to the workers’ compensation fund control board every year.
These accidents and diseases are occasioned by a number of factors which include human error, poor state of equipment and machines and non-conformance to safety procedures at work place.
As a long term solution to the problem of increasing accident experience at work places, the International Social Security Association (ISSA) launched the first ever global campaign to improve safety, health and wellbeing at workplaces during the XXI World Congress last year in Singapore and invited WCFCB to join the campaign and became a partner.
The Vision Zero aims to engage companies to systematically eliminate occupational accidents and diseases by investing in a healthy and motivated workforce.
The Vision Zero campaign is based on an underlying ethical principle that “all accidents, diseases and harm at work are preventable” if the core values of the campaign - safety, health and wellbeing - are embraced.
As a partner of Vision Zero, WCFCB has made a commitment to ISSA to launch the campaigning Zambia this year.
In implementing the Vision Zero initiative, the Board has come-up with robust programmes like the recently launched Safe Workers of Tomorrow programme. The programme is aimed at inculcating a culture of health and safety in learners who constitute future human capital.
The Board believes learners in primary, secondary and tertiary schools can be better prepared for the future, if health and safety education is given to them at an early stage. The Safe Workers of tomorrow would several safety clubs established in various schools.
Another key initiative hatched by WCFCB was a gymnasium for staff at Head Office in Ndola for staff. The launch was graced by Ndola Mayor Amon Chisenge who hailed the Board for the initiative meant to improve fitness levels among members of staff.
LEADING BY EXAPMPLE: WCFCB Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Lungu Nkumbula (right) and Ndola Mayor Amon Chisenga workout with WCFCB staff after the launch of the gym at Head Office in Ndola.
“Wellness programmes at places of work have become necessary in light of the increasing cases of stress related diseases, which are negatively affecting productivity,” he said.
Without doubt, preservation of human capital is critically important to the achievement of organisational goals and physical fitness is a necessary ingredient to this process. Principal actors responsible for occupational health and safety at the workplace level are the employers and workers who according to the internationally accepted principles should collaborate in carrying out activities for health and safety at work.
They often need advice, assistance and services of occupational health and safety experts.
“I am delighted to note that Workers Compensation Fund Control Board is making progress through the establishment of facilities that enable human capital preservation through physical fitness programmes,” Mr Chisenga said. The Mayor said government was concerned at the increasing levels of stress related diseases which are depleting human capital and that deliberate efforts are being made to encourage workers to stay healthy.
WCFCB Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Lungu-Nkumbula recently that implementing a wellness program within the workplace becomes a vital tool to encourage healthy habits
“We must take leadership in wellness programmes and the introduction of this facility is the genesis to the long journey for the vision zero campaign,” WCFCB Commissioner said. No doubt, stress levels in the work place have steadily increased because many people are confined to office work for longer periods of time, among other factors.
The wellness program would help reduce chronic problems associated with inactive lifestyle such as depression, hypertension, diabetes and other related diseases.
Ultimately, if left unchecked, failure to exercise may lead to a decline in the overall health of employees in a work place; contribute to an increase in health related expenses for both employers and the employees and ultimately lead to lower productivity because of the time employees are away from work due to illnesses or sickness.
The Author is a Communications Officer at Workers’ Compensation Fund Control Board.