adminNSSA occupational safety and health training manager Mrs Shingirayi Mugaviri said the inaugural conference will be held in Harare next week from 19 to 20 July.
“Starting this year, the conference will be an annual conference for Occupational Safety, Health and Environment (OSHE) practitioners in the country,” she said.
Mrs Mugaviri said many company were taking safety and health issues seriously by employing OSHE practitioners.
“A number of companies have adopted safety, health and management systems resulting in the hiring of practioners to deal with occupational safety, health and environment issues. NSSA as a regulatory authority is introducing a conference for the practitioners so that we come up with a platform to discuss a number of occupational safety, health and environment issues,” she said.
OSHE practitioners, among other responsibilities coordinate and assist the compilation, implementation, and revision of health, safety and environment management plans at the workplace
This year’s conference will be officially opened by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare Mr Lancaster Museka.
Between 100 and 150 OSHE practioners are expected to attend the conference.
Mrs Mugaviri said NSSA was concerned with the high rate of occupational accidents being recorded in the country.
In 2010, Zimbabwe recorded 4 410 occupational injuries and 90 fatalities while in 2011 there were 4 111 occupational injuries and 75 deaths.
She said between January and June this year, the country recorded 2 418 occupational injuries and 55 deaths.
She said most of the accidents were recorded in the mining industry followed by the transport and manufacturing sectors.
“Most of the accidents have been recorded in the mining industry and we have since established that most of the companies’ personnel are not trained to be able to prevent accidents,” she said.
Online Reporter