Editorial Comment: Declare June 6 national workplace safety day

June 6 is an important day on our national workplace health and safety agenda.

Forty-four years ago, 427 miners perished at Hwange Colliery Company Limited’s Kamandama Underground Mine after a methane gas explosion. Rescue operations by local teams and those from abroad failed to save anyone thus all the miners who were underground were entombed down there. This is by far Zimbabwe’s worst single workplace disaster and one of the world’s biggest catastrophes.

Every year on June 6, HCCL puts together a commemorative event for the miners. The venue is always at the disaster site, Zimbabwe’s biggest mass grave. Widows of the departed, their children and relatives are invited to attend the commemoration. The Kamandama Memorial Fundraising Golf Tournament is also staged yearly to raise funds to cater for the surviving spouses of the 427 heroes.

The government is always represented as well. This year, Matabeleland North Minister of Provincial Affairs, Cain Mathema headlined the memorial.

In his address, Minister Mathema paid tribute to the 427 and asserted the government’s commitment to ensure that occupational hazards are minimised.

“This day when 427 gallant sons lost their lives continues to be a sad reminder as to the importance of safety at the workplace,” he said on Monday. “This event comes at a time when government continues to put emphasis on industrial safety and health through the consolidation of mining safety regulations. I’m aware that despite the global challenging economic conditions, HCCL has continued to put more emphasis on the safety of its workers which I feel is very commendable. However, let me reiterate that safety of workers should not be confined to the Colliery but all individuals and organisations,” he said.

Indeed, June 6 is the moment when Zimbabwe not only pays tribute to the 427 but also to take stock of the welfare, health and safety of workers in general. It reminds us of the need for employers and employees to put in place and strictly uphold measures to ensure that the workplace is always safe and disasters are minimised, if indeed they happen.

But making this possible has proved to be a challenge for the country largely because of the continuing sanctions-induced economic situation that hampers companies’ ability to invest in systems and infrastructure to limit occupational hazards and accidents. In an environment where companies’ immediate focus is to keep afloat, it is possible that the welfare of workers is relegated to the margins. This is most regrettable.

A few months ago the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) said local workplaces are inherently hazardous with dozens of workers dying and sustaining injuries. For example, the rate of occupational injuries in the country was 2,27 in 2014 yet it must be down to less than one in ideal circumstances.

Reasons for this include low investment in occupational safety and health systems in a difficult operating environment, non-compliance with rules and regulations and low levels of awareness to occupational health and safety issues.

In view of this we urge employers to put the lives and safety of their workers first before profit. Yes the economic situation is difficult, but that is not an excuse at all for them to neglect employee welfare. NSSA should also enhance its random workplace visits and intensify awareness campaigns to educate workers and their employers on safety issues. Employees themselves need to appreciate that no job is worth dying for.

Speaking at the Kamandama Memorial Associated Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe (AMWUZ) Matabeleland North regional chairperson, Luka Katako called on the government to declare June 6 a national holiday as a way to immortalise the memory of the 427 miners and the national commitment to a safe workplace.

“We appreciate what the company and government are doing in enforcing high safety standards in the mining industry. We will, however, continue to implore government to declare the 6th of June ‘Safety and Health’ holiday. We believe that such a move will go a long way in heightening safety consciousness not only in the mining industry but across sectors,” he said.

We get his point and agree with the union’s lobby for greater recognition of the miners and general occupational safety and health.

However, what we see as more feasible is for the government to declare June 6 National Workplace Safety Day, not exactly a holiday. Such a declaration will raise the profile of the day making it a more national one not one that is only observed in Hwange.