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Deadlines, Time Frames and Resources Non Coordination of work on sites Little Investment by many Contractors = Outdated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

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5

10

15

20

25

30

Fatal Accidents (2002 - 2008)

Other sectors

ConstructionSector

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5

10

15

20

25

Fatal Accidents in Construction(2002 - 2008)

Local Workers

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 2007 - 2013 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