27 Feb 2022

The need to have Safety and Health professionals recognised has resulted in the birth of Botswana Occupational Safety Health and Environment Practitioner Organisation (BOSHEPO).

The association, which was launched recently, is aimed to address ‘failure [of employers] to give SHE the professional recognition they deserved as well as the absence of occupational health safety national policy in the country.

Speaking at the launch, BOSHEPO chairperson, Mr Pelotshweu Dijokota explained that SHE officers were ‘like the law enforcement of an organisation’, hence the need to have them in every industry.

Mr Dijokota also highlighted the need for a health and safety national body that would be committed to serving the country using both proven and innovative methods that promoted good health and safety standards.

“Therefore, BOSHEPO is committed to promoting compliance among SHE practitioners and ensuring that prevailing regulations stipulated in the Constitution are followed,” he said. Again, he said the formation of the association aimed to provide training, consultation and advocacy on issues of health, safety and environment as well as to ensure integrity in the occupational health and safety profession.

He added that registered SHE practitioners would benefit from an array of services which included professional recognition and  industry advocacy.

“SHE officers registered under BOSHEPO will advocate for the expansion and professional advancement of OHS [occupational health and safety], protect and maintain the interest of our members as well as institute methods, payments, techniques and procedures that will lead to the continual development and growth of occupational health and safety,” he said.

For her part, BOSETU representative, Ms Monica Legwale expressed an urgent need for SHE officers in the workplace, whether informal or formal.

Ms Legwale said it was crucial to have an individual who could recognise what could go wrong, act when something went wrong and be willing to take ownership of the situation.

Moreover, she stated that the role of a SHE officer varied from company to company, but they all had one thing in common; ensuring the safety of all in the workplace.

Against such a background, Ms Legwale congratulated BOSHEPO executive management for creating a platform for occupational safety health and environment practitioners that would ensure integrity in the OHS profession.

“I hope that the association will also ensure that practitioners benchmark and achieve acceptable international best industrial practice to access and receive recognition,” she said. Ends