12 Feb 2018

An environmental health official in the North West District Council, Mr Moreki Nthibo says health and safety at the work place is vital.

Speaking at an occupational health and safety workshop in Maun recently, Mr Nthibo noted that good health was important for the existence of everybody therefore he said failure to comply with safety and health practices put people’s lives in danger.

He advised the officers who dealt with equipment that handled hazardous substances such as chemicals to use proper protective clothing always to avoid harm. 

Mr Nthibo noted that it was possible for some people to overlook protection as was a normal practice at personal level.

The Maun Administration environmental officer, Mr Daniel Olerilwe said the workshop was to sensitise officers in fields that required health and safety to improve safety at workplaces. 

Mr Olerilwe noted that offices who dealt with chemicals, electrical, cooks and others were some of those who needed to be cautious in their daily routines. He also advised officers to report any suspected cases of danger at workplaces.

Another official, Mr Patrick Keakantse from the Department of Health and Safety also said exercising health and safety was crucial to avoid accidents.

Mr Keakantse said accidents caused by risks at work resulted in high costs of compensation. He however said some accidents were caused by negligence which could be avoided.

He also pointed out that poor working conditions had potential to expose workers to danger.

Mr Keakantse noted that successful occupational health and safety required collaboration between the employer and employees.

Some attendants complained about failure by their employers to provide specific protective clothing for the nature of their jobs and delay in collecting some clinical waste that posed danger to the people in the surroundings. BOPA