OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY AUTHORITY Norman Spiteri Dip. Soc. Std. (OHS)

Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA)  Established in 2000  Started Operating in 2002  Before – Health and Safety Unit within Department of Labour…  …and Commission for Promotion of OHS (Advisory Role)

OHSA Main Duties and Functions  To Establish Strategies and Coordinate Actions  Promote and Educate on OHS Matters  To Prepare Regulations and Guidance Information  To Ensure OHS is safeguarded by whosoever has such duty.

Construction General Considerations  Construction is one of Europe’s: Largest Industries  Over € 1000 Billion annual Turn Over Most Dangerous  Estimated Three times more likely for Fatal Accidents  Estimated Twice the Likelihood of being Injured  In addition many workers suffer from Occupational acquired Diseases such as: Musculoskeletal Disorders Noise Induced Hearing Loss Skin Problems Etc…

THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR COMMON CHALLENGES  High Risk Sector  Common shortcomings found on Construction sites Non Management of Falls From Heights Foreigners – Problem of Communication Untrained, Unskilled Workforce Deadlines, Time Frames and Resources Non Coordination of work on sites Little Investment by many Contractors = Outdated Equipment etc… Besides Environmental and Social Impact…

Main Source of Problems  No Holistic Approach to Building and Construction  Piecemeal Legislative and Regulatory approach Entities and Authorities working Independently from one an other.  Example: Planning, OHS, Public Health, Environment, Civil Rights etc…

Fatal Accidents in the Construction Sector  52 Fatal accidents in total (2002 – 2008)  38% Other sectors  62% Construction sector of which 28% are Foreign workers

Actions being taken By OHSA  Regulations – Legal Notices – Construction Ind. Legal Notice 281 of 2004 Legal Notice 379 of 2003 Code of Practice for Building and Construction Industry Part I and II Checklist (Visual) Leaflets

Actions being taken By OHSA  Various Training Courses for Construction Workers Introduction to Health and Safety Safety in Construction Health and Safety Representative First Aid Risk Assessment  Own Staff Development Seminars Courses 3 Twinning Projects which included construction awareness

Actions being taken By OHSA  Media Exposure T.V. Programmers Local Radio Stations Newspapers Magazines Press releases  Applied for European Social Funds Research in Health and Safety

Actions being taken By OHSA  Involved in the Yearly European Campaigns Stop that Noise Lighten The Load Safe Start Risky Business Safe on Site  Construction Campaigns Scaffolding systems Falls From Heights Quarries  Routine Inspections

Actions Taken By OHSA  Two Initiatives undertaken with Building Industry Consultation Council (BICC): Safety Bus – Announced visits carried out by OHS Officer and Cameraman. Film edited and shown to workers on site  Technical Flaws: Demanding on OHSA Human Resources, expensive, Only Large construction sites visited  Way Forward: Sponsorship by Stakeholders!!! Safety Card – Short awareness raising information session  Technical Flaws: Too time consuming, Little Tangible results  Way Forward: To Mainstream OHS into tradesmen courses

OHSA Enforcement Actions  Over 2000 Inspections are carried out each year in the various sectors  Enforcement Action Provision of Advice Order issued under Act  To improve  To stop works (all or parts thereof) Legal Action

Actions by other Stakeholders and Duty Holders ??? OHSA is not the one-all and be-all, but only one from a long list of stakeholders

Thank you for Your Attention