Ethiopian industrial factories commit to a safe and healthy working environment
Factories in Ethiopia got together on April 28 to reaffirm their commitments to a safe and healthy working conditions for their employers.
28 April 2017
Addis Ababa (ILO news): This year’s World Day for Safety and Health (OSH) at Work focused on factories reaffirming their commitment and raising workers’ awareness on OSH reporting.
The event that was hosted by BeConnected Industrial Factory in collaboration with the ILO, helped to raise the awareness of the workers about the benefit of reporting occupational safety related incidents, collecting and use of OSH data at the factory level and the role of the factory and workers to improve collection and use of OSH data.
BeConnected’s Representative, Mr. Vincent van Reenen, during his opening speech, highlighted the protection of workers from occupational accident and disease as the priority of the factory. BeConnected has been cited as one the exemplary industries in Ethiopian Eastern Industrial Zone in ensuring a safe and healthy work environment.
The President of Industrial Federation of Textile Leather and Garment Worker Trade Union on his part reminded that OSH issues should not considered as the sole responsibilities of factory owners/management. He emphasized that workers also should play their own roles in protecting themselves from occupational accidents and diseases.
Ms. Kidist Chala, ILO representative said that ILO, through its improving industrial relations and working condition project, is providing technical support to Beconnected to establish OSH committee, develop OSH system and policy. Collection and analysis of data for continuous improvement has been at the heart of the technical support.
Celebrating the event on Friday, State Minister Workinesh Biru highlighted the increasing claims of work injury, which are becoming a major challenge in industry sector.
The State Minister, further pointed out that lack of integrated and relevant OSH data as the primary reason behind the increment of occupational hazard, adding that the ministry is working to alleviate the harm through operating software development in collaboration with the ILO.
Addis Ababa City Labour and Social Affairs Bureau Head Efirem Gizaw said that although his bureau has registered 46,000 organizations, only 82 of them have prepared OSH report. Consequently, 16 workers have lost their lives and 833 of them are injured due to occupational rescue.
Other factories also held similar events showing their commitments to ensure a safe working environment for their workers.
The ILO works to promote a culture of prevention on OSH to protect all workers’ health and lives. It can be achieved with the joint commitment of governments, workers and employers, and with accurate, comparable and timely data.
The event that was hosted by BeConnected Industrial Factory in collaboration with the ILO, helped to raise the awareness of the workers about the benefit of reporting occupational safety related incidents, collecting and use of OSH data at the factory level and the role of the factory and workers to improve collection and use of OSH data.
BeConnected’s Representative, Mr. Vincent van Reenen, during his opening speech, highlighted the protection of workers from occupational accident and disease as the priority of the factory. BeConnected has been cited as one the exemplary industries in Ethiopian Eastern Industrial Zone in ensuring a safe and healthy work environment.
The President of Industrial Federation of Textile Leather and Garment Worker Trade Union on his part reminded that OSH issues should not considered as the sole responsibilities of factory owners/management. He emphasized that workers also should play their own roles in protecting themselves from occupational accidents and diseases.
Ms. Kidist Chala, ILO representative said that ILO, through its improving industrial relations and working condition project, is providing technical support to Beconnected to establish OSH committee, develop OSH system and policy. Collection and analysis of data for continuous improvement has been at the heart of the technical support.
Celebrating the event on Friday, State Minister Workinesh Biru highlighted the increasing claims of work injury, which are becoming a major challenge in industry sector.
The State Minister, further pointed out that lack of integrated and relevant OSH data as the primary reason behind the increment of occupational hazard, adding that the ministry is working to alleviate the harm through operating software development in collaboration with the ILO.
Addis Ababa City Labour and Social Affairs Bureau Head Efirem Gizaw said that although his bureau has registered 46,000 organizations, only 82 of them have prepared OSH report. Consequently, 16 workers have lost their lives and 833 of them are injured due to occupational rescue.
Other factories also held similar events showing their commitments to ensure a safe working environment for their workers.
The ILO works to promote a culture of prevention on OSH to protect all workers’ health and lives. It can be achieved with the joint commitment of governments, workers and employers, and with accurate, comparable and timely data.