25 Jan 2018

National Food Technology Research Centre (NFTRC) in Kanye has launched safety health education committee which will make awareness and understanding of workplace hazards and how to identify, report, and control them.

The launch was done during a one day workshop held in Kanye recently at NFTRC.

After the launch, NTRC SHE coordinator, Mr Juda Bogopa said education and training were important tools for informing workers and managers about workplace hazards and controls so they could work more safely.

He stated that additional training might be needed to ensure that workers should incorporate any assigned safety and health responsibilities into their daily routine and activities.

He stated that workers should be trained so they understand and could recognise the hazards they might encounter in their own jobs, as well as more general work-related hazards.
‘’Effective housekeeping can eliminate some workplace hazards and help get a job done safely and properly,” he noted.

He said poor housekeeping could frequently contribute to accidents by hiding hazards that caused injuries.

He stated that employers, managers, and supervisors were responsible for workers’ safety, yet sometimes had little training on safety-related concepts and techniques.
 

Mr Bogopa mentioned that they might benefit from specific training that allowed them to fulfill their leadership roles in the programme.

He said they should promote wellness in workplace.

He indicated that workers should be instructed on concepts and techniques for controlling hazards, including the hierarchy of controls and its importance.

Addressing on safety, health and environmental programs, he said it might also actually lean towards survival, adding that in reality the amount of production required to cover costs associated with accidents in the workplace could be substantial and might far outweigh the expense of providing a safe and healthy working environment.

He said knowledge and skills needed to do their work safely and avoid creating hazards that could place themselves or others at risk.

An official from Potlako Emergence Trainers, Mr Brian Kgwefane said employers, managers, and supervisors should be on the procedures for responding to workers’ reports of injuries, illnesses, and incidents, including ways to avoid discouraging reporting.

He said workers should be taught on how to report injuries, illnesses, incidents, and concerns. He said they should be trained on when and how to wear required personal protective equipment.

He stated that stress in work place was a disease which could cause serious injuries. He said this also could affect core workers.

Mr Kgofane said to be absent from work time affected the organization. He said they should avoid injuries and accidents which might end up in compensation. Ends