A survey conducted by the Ghana Employers’ Association (GEA) on occupational safety and the environment has suggested that managers of the business economy understand their safety and health responsibilities.

The study, which was a Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund Project, was conducted in 40 organisations in five selected interest groups of the business economy - manufacturing industries, construction industries, agricultural sector, hotel and catering and marine operations.

It was to assist employers in providing safe, healthy and productive work environments for its employees.

Giving the findings of the survey at a dissemination workshop in Accra on Tuesday, Mr Samuel Sarpong, Chief Executive Officer of the Oxia Ghana Limited, a service provider, said occupational health, safety and environment service should be independent of any government safety and health compliance or enforcement activity.

He said it should be applied to all places of employment in the business sectors of the economy and a reliable system for employees should be provided without fear of reprisal to notify management about apparent hazardous conditions and to receive timely and appropriate responses.

He explained that many employers over the years had requested for a programme that catered for organisations with specific interest in the Voluntary Compliance Programmes, hence, the study to help them meet the requirements of the Employers' Coalition on Occupational Safety and Health (ECOSH).

Mr Sarpong said management must apply its commitment to safety and health protection with much emphasis as other organizational purposes whilst employees developed and expressed their own commitment to safety and health protection, for themselves as well as their fellow workers.

Mr. Charles Asante-Bempong, Project Manager, GEA, said the survey was triggered by a determination that a hazard or potential hazard existed and where feasible, prevent hazards by effective design of job or job site.

"Where prevention is not feasible, control hazards to prevent unsafe and unhealthy exposure elimination or control must be accomplished in a timely manner and address the safety and health responsibilities of all personnel concerned with the site."

He explained that occupational safety would be most effective when incorporated into other training about performance requirements and job practices.

Mr. Asante-Bempong recommended that employers should state clearly a worksite safety and health policy and communicate clear goals and objectives for the safety as well as health programme.

Employers should also provide visible top management involvement in implementing the programme, hold all employees accountable for meeting their responsibilities, review and evaluate programme operations, conduct comprehensive baseline and periodic update safety and health inspections.

They should establish procedures for timely correction or control of hazards, including engineering techniques where feasible, and appropriate procedures for safe work which are followed as a result of training, positive reinforcement, correction of unsafe performance and enforcement.

Mrs. Rose Karikari Anang, Executive Director of GEA, said occupational health safety and the environment were paramount and urged organisations that did not have departments on safety to do so for the safety of the their employees.

She called for regular inspections, regular reports on accidents and other incidents and put in place mechanisms that would prevent such accidents.


Source: GNA