adminofficial said last week.
According to the National Social Security Authority, at least 140 people have died while 1 867 were seriously injured in the first four months of this year compared to 35 deaths and 1 607 serious injuries recorded during the same period last year, representing a 16 percent increase.
Labour and Social Services acting permanent secretary Ms Memory Mukondomi
urged employers to find ways of raising awareness on issues of Occupational Health and Safety.
“These workers who were killed or maimed on duty left home hoping to return at the end of the day but their lives were permanently terminated or they ended up being confined to the hospital bed,” she said.
“I know that as Safety, Health and Environment professionals the majority of you try your level best to save life and limb but in some instances it is through your mistakes that some of these workers died or were maimed.”
Ms Mukondomi was addressing participants of a two-day conference for Safety, Health and Environmental Practitioners themed, “Promoting a Preventative for Occupational Accidents and Diseases” last week. She said more investment was required in OHS.
“Unless you are prepared to influence your employers to undergo a paradigm shift in SHE management, we will continue to have increased fatalities and serious injuries in the years to come,” she said.
Ms Mukondomi said the Government was formulating a new piece of legislation, which would go a long way in addressing challenges in managing OSH.
At least 65 people were killed and 3 810 seriously injured in 2008 while 64 died and
3 122 were injured in 2009. Ninety people died and 4 410 were seriously injured in 2010 while 75 died and 4 158 were seriously injured in 2011 and last year at least 107 died while 5 144 were seriously injured in work- related accidents. – New Ziana.
Online Reporter