National study on recording and notification of occupational accidents and diseases in Zambia

Zambia has a rudimentary national recording and notification system. This report provides information on the coverage, legislation and gaps of this system with a hope that the information will be used to enhance the system.

The report gives a SWOT analysis that acknowledges the presence of recording and notification legislation and institutions in the country and encourages stakeholders to update/strengthen this legislation and the institutions. The report also urges close collaboration of stakeholders to strengthen the recording and notification in the country due to the fundamental understanding that poorly checked unsafe or unhealthy worksites depict lack of robust and efficient systems of health care, economic production and social justice. The report notes that a nation that avoids or fails to initiate and sustain recording and notification activities that measurably and progressively promote safe and healthy worksites, in simple terms, accommodates and facilitates unsafe and unhealthy behaviour on a daily basis in requiring its nationals to engage in work.

An important facet of every good occupational injuries prevention programme is clear knowledge of the number of accidents and diseases, their seriousness, their causes and the workplaces and industries where they occur. This means that every country needs a well-functioning and effective system on recording and notification and how analysis of the resulting database is performed.

This report gives information on activities that could be vital in strengthening the National System on Recording and Notification of Occupational Accidents and Diseases in Zambia. An outline of the components of a typical recording and notification system that will shade light on the status of the current Zambian recording and notification system will precede an examination of coverage and scope of the system.

The European Commission (EC) under the terms of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Project on “Improving safety and health at work through a Decent Work Agenda” provided funding to print this document.