“The inspection exercise was conducted to promote general awareness of OSH management in the SMEs, compliance with OSH laws in MSMEs, and build OSH technical capacity on OSH inspectors, and district labour officers for improved effectiveness and efficiencies in executing OSH and Labour inspections in the MSMEs” Said Johanes Mandowa, the EU OSH expert under the Zantchito Skills for Jobs project.
A total of 112 SMEs were inspected in Mzimba, Chitipa, Nkhatabay, Rumphi, and Karonga where a majority of the SMEs had multiple OSH deficits. The most common OSH Deficits among SMEs in the Northern region districts inspected included among others the following;
1. Unguarded dangerous moving parts of machinery (vee belts and pulleys, chains and sprockets, circular saw, rotating shafts )
2. Exposure to silica and sawdust
3. Exposure to risky electrical connections
4. Non provision of personal protective clothing and equipment
5. Non provision of safety and health education and training
6. Violation of prescribed safety and health regulations and procedures
7. Use of improperly constructed scaffolds
8. Exposure to excessive noise levels capable of inflicting workers with permanent noise induced hearing loss
9. Exposure of workers to unsafe and unfair labour practices during holidays
A preliminary report on the inspection exercise has recommended intensive OSH awareness training programmes targeting employers and employees in the SMEs in order to close the OSH knowledge gaps identified, and to increase the capacity of the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) in the Ministry of Labour to efficiently enforce OSH regulations.
The OSH inspection programme involved the participation of OSH inspectors, workers’ compensation officers, and district labour officers from the respective districts. This collaboration was strategic in enhancing the concept of integrated labour inspections as an enabler for executing effective labour inspections cost-effectively.
