Adoption of good workplace safety and health practices is on a decline across the country. This is according to the Occupational Health and Safety Assessment of 2023 published recently. The Department of Labour says many workers are still exposed to unsafe conditions that put their health and safety at risk leading to injuries, illness, and even death. However, after the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment started imposing stricter penalties this year, the adoption of workplace safety and health practices in construction sites has improved compared to the previous years.
The industry, commerce, and employment ministry’s inspection teams enforce occupational health and safety in the construction sites, often issuing improvement notices and penalties for violations.
The ministry says stricter implementation of various regulations on occupational health and safety has led to increased fine collection.
In the current fiscal year, almost Nu 1.5 M were collected as fines compared to just Nu 250,000 a year earlier.
“We have seen a major improvement in the three areas of barricading construction sites, where we have seen all the construction sites using safety nets. Secondly, the use of safety gear by the workers, for example, helmets and boots. And in terms of electrical safety, in the past, they would use a wooden block with two pins with wires attached to it for electrical work instead of a proper plug and socket, whereas today this issue has decreased drastically,” said Sonam Galey Dorjee, an engineer of Department of Labour.
According to the ministry, construction sites are inspected in seven areas. They are the availability of a first aid box, electrical safety, usage of personal protective equipment or PPE, OHS policy, issuance of PPE, installing safety nets, and barricading worksites.
“The main challenge that the department face is due to the increased employment of foreign workers every year and the fact that new owners usually do not have knowledge of occupational health and safety. Similarly, there are some workers in sites who refuse to comply with the occupational health and safety guidelines as well,” said Sonam Galey Dorjee.
He also added that PPEs available in the market do not meet the standards mentioned in the Regulation on Occupational Health, Safety, and Welfare, 2022.
The ministry is hoping to change the mindset of employers and employees towards safety gear use by shifting their focus from the fear of fines to prioritising safety at all costs.
Tashi Deker
Edited by Sherub Dorji
