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A TOTAL of 61 people have died while more than 4 000 others were injured in work-related accidents between January and October this year.
This was revealed at a graduation ceremony for students from different companies in Bulawayo who underwent a course in Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Management Course (OSHEMAC) under the National Social Security Authority (NSSA).
Speaking at the ceremony, NSSA director for occupational health and safety, Mr Rodgers Dhliwayo, said the statistics showed an increase compared to the same period last year.
“This year to date the number of injuries rocketed to 4 657 with 61 fatalities. During the same time in 2012 the total stood at 4 250 serious injuries with 88 fatalities. October 2013 was a very deadly month with 530 serious injuries and seven fatalities reported to NSSA,” said Mr Dhliwayo.
He also castigated Zesa and mining companies, saying they accounted for many deaths that happened at workplaces.
“Zesa kills a person every month. I have said this to them time and again, stop killing people. Mining companies accounted for about 30 deaths and about 11 involved Zesa,” he said.
Mr Dhliwayo also said it was time to stop treating occupational health and safety as a welfare issue.
A total of 91 students drawn from different companies in the southern part of the country underwent the eight-week course described by the director as “intense”. One of the students’ representatives, Mr Herbert Njini said OSHEMAC is of great value to an individual and the nation at large as it would enhance sustainable development by equipping workers with the ability to detect hazardous situations and rectify them before they cause adverse effects.
Mr Njini implored companies to take the safety of workers as a priority as the people were the greatest asset to companies.
Online Reporter