Seminar highlights occupational safety and health in construction industry

COLOMBO: In Sri Lanka the construction industry has recently had to respond to the immediate needs of Tsunami devastated areas and as a result larger reconstruction projects and activities are currently being undertaken.

This also provides new job opportunities to the tsunami affected, a statement issued by the ILO Colombo office said.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) in collaboration with the Labour Relations and Foreign Employment Ministry is organising a National Seminar on Occupational Safety and Health in the Construction Industry commenced yesterday at the Ceylon Continental Hotel, Colombo.

The workshop facilitated by an expert from the Korean Occupational Safety and Health Association (KOSHA) and a senior specialist from the ILO Specialist Team in New Delhi, highlighted the importance of reducing occupational accidents and diseases through the promotion of a preventive safety and health culture in the construction industry, the statement said.

The construction sector is recognized worldwide as one of the most hazardous sectors with accident rates significantly higher than most other sectors.

Construction workers are frequently exposed to hazards such as strenuous and arduous work, with high levels of noise and vibrations, chemicals, polluted soil, asbestos, long working hours and uncomfortable climatic conditions.

"Promoting a preventive safety and health culture in the construction industry in Sri Lanka entails bringing about opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work, in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity" ILO Director, Sri Lanka Tine Staermose said.

In Sri Lanka, a new Act on Occupational Safety and Health at Work is in its final stage of formulation. This Act will cover all work places, including the construction sites, unlike the current Act that covers only the factories.

The extensive use of sub-contracting and casual labour, the implementation, application and enforcement of the Act, once passed by the Parliament, will need specific attention.

According to a report prepared by the ILO in 2005, 17 per cent of all fatal accidents globally occur in the industry, and the higher rate of industrial accidents are found among younger and older workers.

The ILO estimates that accidents and illnesses cause 2.2 million deaths per year and reduce the world's gross domestic product by four per cent.

The ILO says the developing world could also benefit from the experience of industrialised countries through raised awareness of health and safety issues at the workplace, as well as an emphasis on the importance of prevention.

In Sri Lanka, 52 fatal accidents and 1688 nonfatal accidents have been reported for 2005. Since reporting of occupational accidents is low worldwide, these figures do not accurately reflect the true picture of the extent of occupational accidents in Sri Lanka.

The burden of occupational accidens cannot be quantified only in terms of financial loss. The human costs in terms of psycho-social impact of such accidents extends far beyond the financial loss, the statement said.