Chronicle Editor
Fairness Moyana recently in Victoria Falls
THE recent 61st National Conference on Safety and Health at Work (SHAW) 2024 has amplified calls for Zimbabwe industries to fully embrace integrated Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) management systems as part of efforts to improve workplace safety.
In an interview at the close of a three-day intense programme, National Social Security Authority (Nssa) acting deputy director for Occupational Safety and Health Board, Mr Benjamin Mtetwa, said the integration process would result in improved systems and cost reductions.
“One of the issues that came out clearly was the call for companies to consider the implementation of an integrated management system as a way of sharpening systems and reducing costs in terms of implementation,” he said.
“You are aware that we have one key in systems implementation — ISO45000 — and the call now is to say alongside this ISO on Occupation Safety and Health, it should be integrated in a manner with other systems such as the ISO14000 on environmental management, as well as ISO9000, which deals with quality.
“So, this particular call certainly is an issue that we are going to follow up with organisations alongside one of the major issues, which has to do with Vision Zero,” said Mr Mtetwa.
He said Nssa, as the regulator that enforces and promotes safety, would be tracking companies which will integrate their systems and begin to build a database.
“We want to know how many companies have made a conscious effort from the time we left this conference,” said Mr Mtetwa.
Other key outcomes include the implementation of Vision Zero with the industry being called to embrace the strategy and promote its implementation.
“Nssa again as the regulator would want organisations to take the lead in coming to report that they are running with Vision Zero and we recognise them to become our partners where they will be recognised internationally that they have implemented Vision Zero strategy,” said Mr Mtetwa.
Delegates also agreed that mental health in the workplace was an emerging issue that impacts the industry negatively, with Nssa arguing that it was introducing a module in its course to encourage the establishment of mental health programmes.
“The other strong aspect has to do with mental health programmes in the workplace. Certainly, with the way industry is structured today, there is a need for organisations to develop mental health programmes,” he said.
“This is possible, especially given that this particular course is well subscribed by industry and we want to take advantage of the fact that Vision Zero has three pillars, that is safety, health and well-being components, and especially for us to infuse and develop further module specific programme on mental health will be timely,” said Mr Mtetwa.
He commended the Government’s efforts to put in place legislation that supports the implementation of OSH programmes at the workplace.
The Government has also committed to ensuring that the country has a new OSH legislative framework, which has been spelt out and now awaits Cabinet committee approval before going through the legislative processes in Parliament.
The impact of climate change on workers’ health and safety was also a topical issue, with organisations being encouraged to develop strategies to mitigate against it.
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