Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara today emphasized the importance of creating a ‘Health and Safety Culture’ in the work place.
“The safety and health culture of an organization is reflection of the values, attitudes, perceptions, competencies and behaviors of the people working there. It reflects the organization’s commitment to, and prioritization of, safety and health as well as the effectiveness of the organization’s safety management system” he said.
The Minister emphasized that developing a robust health and safety culture should start from oneself and from within organizations.
The Minister stated this while attending the National Occupational Safety and Health Excellence Awards ceremony.
The Minister in his speech described how the country spiraled into an economic crisis and how the present government headed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe steered the country out of it.
“We need to create a health and occupational safety culture at the workplace in our country. Now is the best time to change. We are changing laws to ensure this. We should rise above differences and truly forge unity to steer the country forward”.
The Minister stressed that by January, many laws in the labour sector will be changed. And under the new Labour Act, the Labour Commissioner will be given wider powers to take decisions regarding occupational safety and health at work place.
“I invite both the public and private sector to join efforts to start a robust health and safety culture in the work place. We will start awareness for that. Irrespective of challenges we should go forward to reach our goals” he said.
The Minister recalled that the tragic death of six employees at a factory in Horana recently could have been averted if there had been a proper health and safety culture in the work place.
The Minister lamented that the Labour Commissioner who tried to take action in this regards had been taken to task legally while those responsible for the tragedy had escaped without any punishment.
He questioned how a proper health and safety culture in the work place can be created if such impediments come before such efforts.
The Minister stressed that more than the imposition of laws creating a safety culture in the work place under a common consensus by both the employer and employees will help overcome such issues.
“A positive safety culture is about working together in the workplace to achieve positive change instead of blaming each other when things don’t go as planned. Creating a positive safety culture is a journey that requires honesty, commitment and hard work” he said.
The Minister urged all institutions to adhere to the above principles.
“Last year, in this conference, it was said that the appointment of a safety officer will be made mandatory. We have included it in the new Labour Act” he added..