26 Apr 2022

Botswana will tomorrow join the rest of the world in commemorating World Day for Safety and Health at Work.

Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Ms Annah Mokgethi is expected to deliver the keynote address during the commemoration billed for Palapye.

Speaking in an interview Monday, Department of Occupational Health and Safety director, Dr Finah Seoke said  Botswana Federation of Trade Unions, Botswana Federation of Public Employees Union and Business Botswana representatives would also deliver speeches.

Industry players would also set up stalls to showcase their products and share ideas on how they managed OHS in their workplaces. 

Dr Seoke said the commemoration would commence with a 7am - 8am march from Palapye Technical College to the event’s venue, Kediretswe Open Space. 

Pre-event activities, she said included joint inspections with law enforcement agencies in workplaces around Palapye, to ensure compliance and build a positive safety and health culture in workplaces.

Dr Seoke said this year’s theme, Act together to Build a Positive Safety and Health Culture, was aimed at enhancing communication between government, workers and employers on Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) matters.

“Since OHS is a labour matter, we were developing the OHS Policy as a tripartite being government, federation of workers and Business Botswana,” stated Dr Seoke. 

She said in order to ensure compliance to OHS standards in the workplace,  an inspectorate  regularly conducted  inspections public education campaigns.

Dr Seoke said although many of the big companies had Safety, Health and Environment officers or OHS committees, some small ones still lagged behind.

Going forward, she said, the ministry would ensure a safe and healthy environment in workplaces and adherence to the OHS policy.

Dr Seoke disclosed that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the day was not commemorated in 2020 whereas a virtual commemoration was held last year. World Day for Safety and Health at Work was declared by ILO in 2003 to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases.

Since then, the day is celebrated annually on April 28 under a different theme to focus international attention on emerging trends in the field of occupational safety and health.

Its main objective is to promote a safe and healthy work culture to reduce work-related injuries or deaths. Ends