Ghana News–Government is being urged to ensure the formulation and implementation of occupational health and safety policies at all work places in Ghana in a bid to guarantee the safety and protection of workers in their institutions of work.
There has been perennial workplace accidents, especially, at mining sites in recent times, with their accompanying blames and counter-blames, plus misunderstandings and delays in the payment of deserving compensations to affected people.
Speaking in an interview with Richmond Antwi Boasiako, on Asankrangwa based Royal FM on “The Dangers and cost of workplace injuries to Ghana’s industrial sector” , an Occupational Health and Safety Expert, Ernest Kojo Abekah, was appalled at recent accidents at mining sites and other workplaces and stressed the need for the implementation of national labour policies on worker’s safety for industrial growth.
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), more than 337million accidents happen on the job each year, resulting together with occupational diseases in more than 2.3million deaths annually. Research indicates that over seventy percent of industrial owners are increasingly concerned about equipment and machinery together with the sustenance of their business as against the health and safety of their employees. The situation is said to have contributed to growing apathy among some workers resulting in low industrial productivity and revenue generation. Kojo Abekah wants punitive actions to be taken against defaulting companies.
The occupational Health and Safety Expert identified acute cases of poisoning, attacks by humans and animals, slips and falls on pavements or staircases, traffic collisions on board a means of transport, among others, as situations that lead to workplace injuries suffered by employees and called on government and industry to implement measures to avert these industrial disasters.
He suggested the institution of Workers’ Memorial Days at all business establishments to periodically reward gallant and hardworking employees.
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