SEMINAR TO IMPROVE COMPLIANCE IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR

M RuitersDirector: Occupational Health and Hygiene

Mandate of DoL• Aim of the Departments OHH program

• Purpose of the OHH session

• Role of social partners

• Conclusion

Content

Mandate of DoL

• Aim for the DOL’S OHH program is to ensure a healthy worker working in a healthy working environment by regulating the health and safety of employers through a set of policies and programs developed in consultation with our social partners.

• These policies and programes are aimed at: enhancing occupational health and hygiene awareness and improve compliance in the workplace, as well nurturing the culture of acceptance that “worker’s rights are human rights”.

Overview of OHH

Purpose of OHH session

During Construction activities employees can be exposed to stressors like for instance :

Ergonomics Noise Hand arm and whole body vibration Organic and inorganic chemical exposure Asbestos Silica Heat Cold …………………………………..Exposure to this stressors can cause numerous occupational diseases

To address these issues DOL decided to have a session on occupational health and hygiene.

This session will include Occupational Hygiene programs!Exposure to asbestos !Importance of risk based medical

surveillance!Occupational diseases!

OHH session

Role of social partners

Improved compliance in this sector requires:A team effort which entails an interaction

between Employers &Employees (organized labour) &Government

These elements when combined form an interactive triangle which will collapse if one element is removed!

DoL/ other Enforcement Agencies

EMPLOYERSWORKERS/

ORGANIZED LABOUR

SOCIAL DIALOGUE

• To obtain occupational health and safety excellence in this sector requires a multidisciplinary approach to prevent incidents that might result from excessive, acute or chronic exposure to stressors.

• The early detection of hazardous conditions can significantly decrease the occurrence of incidents that can cause adverse health effects, by reducing risks.

• This multidisciplinary approach can only be achieved if government (DoL) the employer, employee and occupation health and hygiene professional bodies work together to ensure a healthy workforce and working environment.

Conclusion

Thank you