Zero harm is possible

Zero harm at workplaces is achievable. This was the message repeatedly emphasised at the recent National Conference on Occupational Safety and Health. Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Nicholas Goche stressed the importance of both occupational safety and health when he opened the conference and when he addressed the guests during the awards dinner that was held after the conference.

National Social Security Authority general manager James Matiza also emphasised the same.
All too often it is taken for granted that factory, mining and construction accidents are inevitable and that it is unavoidable that there will

be work-related deaths and serious injuries each year. Yet accidents at work are avoidable.
The number of accidents at work in Zimbabwe that result in deaths or serious injuries is high. The number is showing no sign of diminishing.

NSSA’s director of occupational safety and health, Mr Rodgers Dhliwayo, has suggested previously that the high number of casualties shows a lack of concern on the part of employers for the safety and health of their employees.

Last year there were 5 141 serious occupational injuries which resulted in 103 deaths, the highest number of occupational injuries and deaths since 2007, when there were more injuries but fewer deaths.

In 2011 there were 4 158 serious work-related injuries recorded, 75 of which were fatal. In 2010 there were 4 410 serious injuries, resulting in 90 deaths. In 2009 the figures were 3 122 serious accidents with 64 deaths. In 2008 there were 3 810 serious injuries with 65 fatalities.
This year 49 deaths at work and 3 641 serious work-related injuries have already been recorded. Last year over the same period 63 workplace deaths and 3 218 serious work injuries were recorded.

Eighty-eight percent of accidents that occur in the workplace are attributable to human factors. Only 6 percent of workplace accidents are caused by machines and their layout.

Environmental factors, such as poor visibility, heat, noise, dust and wet conditions, are responsible for 4 percent of workplace accidents.
Just 2 percent of accidents are attributed to unavoidable natural events.

Ninety-five percent of accidents due to human factors can be blamed on inadequate supervision or management of safety issues.
Speaking at the National Conference on Occupational Safety and Health Awards Dinner, Mr Dhliwayo pointed out that if employees fail to make use of the protective clothing and equipment that have been provided for them, they are putting their employer at risk of being held accountable in the event of injuries.

It is management’s responsibility not only to provide protective equipment but to also ensure that it is used.
Employers and workers have a collective responsibility to ensure safe working environments and practices.

Employers have the primary responsibility of ensuring workplace safety, through adhering to safety regulations, ensuring boilers and machinery are safe, ensuring machinery that requires safety guards is fitted with those, providing employees with protective clothing and safety materials and ensuring they use them.

They are also required to put in place occupational safety and health systems and procedures, educating staff on safety precautions and procedures and putting systems in place to ensure safety procedures are complied with.

The expenditure involved is essential for any employer who has the interests of the employees at heart. It also in the long run makes good business sense.

Accidents are not good for productivity or for staff morale or the business’s reputation.
However, employees must also play their part. After all, it is generally their safety and health that is at risk, if they do not follow laid down safety procedures.

They need to adhere to established safety and health procedures and policies, wear protective clothing and equipment provided for them, bring to management’s attention any safety and health risks and press for the necessary steps to be taken to minimise these risks. If necessary, where their concerns are not addressed, they should report them to NSSA’s occupational safety and health department.
The winners of health and safety awards, which included large companies in the mining and construction sectors, have demonstrated that it is possible to have a good safety and health record even in areas where the potential for accidents is high.

One of the companies has adopted the slogan “zero harm is possible” proudly emblazoned on signs at the gate of its Harare offices.
Ensuring safety at work is everyone’s responsibility. It is the responsibility of the employer, the managers and the employees themselves. What is needed is a culture among businesses of preventing accidents.

The promotion of a preventive culture for occupational accidents and diseases was the theme of the recent occupational safety and health conference.

Deaths and injuries at work are not inevitable. As Mr Matiza put it at the Safety and Health Awards dinner, loss of life through occupational accidents is simply unacceptable.

“Occupational accidents are preventable and in this regard there are no valid grounds to justify losing a life while at work,” he said.

Talking Social Security is published weekly by the National Social Security Authority as a public service. There is also a weekly radio programme, PaMhepo neNssa/Emoyeni leNSSA, discussing social security issues at 6.50pm every Thursday on Radio Zimbabwe and every Friday on National FM. There is another social security programme on Star FM on Wednesdays at 5.30pm. Readers can e-mail issues they would like dealt with in this column to [email protected] or text them to 0772-307913. Those with individual queries should contact their local NSSA office or telephone NSSA on (04) 706517-8 or 706523-5.