The Department of Labour says occupational health and safety measures are largely ignored at the work places, especially in the construction sector.
According to the Department’s record, 21 fatal work related accidents occurred in construction sector between July last year to June this year. Within the same period, 10 workers were also partially disabled. “The number must be higher as many cases go unreported,” said the labour officials.
The Construction Industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the Country. It is also a sector employing majority of expatriate construction workers.
But more often than not, the construction workers are seen without protective gears like helmet and gloves among others. “It is uncomfortable to wear the gears while working,” a few of the workers said. Some of them said they were never issued protecting gears when they began working.
To promote the safety culture in the work places, the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources, came up with regulations on Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) in 2006. In April, this year a detailed regulation on Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare was introduced.
The Director of the Department of Labour, Jigme Thinlye, said that OHS regulation makes it mandatory for all workers to wear protective gears, such as safety helmets, belts, masks, or footwear, among others, which employers have to provide. Workers Compensation and penalties are also reflected in the Regulations and Act.
However, the Director agrees that such regulations have remained largely on paper. “Now we feel that we have done enough advocacy part. With new regulations, we have come out with new penalties clauses.”
If the workers are found without safety gears, they will be fined Nu.500. The Director said they will also go after those employers who have not issued Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
The Department of Labour has also recently issued a circular notifying the employers and employees to adopt safety culture in the work places.
The circular also mentions the penalties. Employers for not providing PPEs will be fined Nu.9,000 for the first instance. The penalty will go up to Nu. 36,000 in second instance. If the employer is caught flouting the rule for the third time, they will be barred from employing foreign workers.
Labour officers have been inspecting the work sites from October 1. “We found out that majority of the construction Industries have not been using PPEs that have been provided and some have not even issued the Safety gears,” said one of the labour officers, Phuntsho Dendup. He said they have started penalizing them.
The Department of Labour says despite constraint in human resources, they will now be enforcing the rules vigorously.
