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The government remains committed to harnessing technology to advance workplace safety and health, to protect workers in the country, the Minister of Labour, Jobs, and Employment, Dr Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, has assured.
He highlighted the importance of ensuring that every worker in the country worked in a safe and secure environment.
Dr Pelpuo, who gave the promise at the commemoration of the World Day of Safety and Health at Work, held in Accra yesterday, said government was making substantial investment in health infrastructure, modernising facilities and equipping workplaces with adequate tools and integrate technology safety.
Organised by the Department of Factories Inspectorate, MLJE and International Labour Organisation (ILO), the event was on the theme; “Emerging technologies and their impact on workers’ health and safety.”
The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is a day observed annually on April 28, aims to prevent occupational illnesses and accidents globally. It is an initiative of ILO that also aims to increase awareness of the value of providing a safe and healthy work environment for everyone.
Dr Pelpuo noted that emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and data-driven systems, offered opportunities for increased productivity, but also introduced new risks and challenges to workers’ safety and health
He said that ILO estimates that over 2.78 million workers globally lose their lives annually to occupational accidents and diseases.
Dr Pelpuo said high-risk sectors such as construction and mining reported over 1,000 occupational injuries annually while about 60 per cent of the workforce operates in the informal economy without access to basic safety protection.
“Globally, poor workplace safety is estimated to cost economies about four per cent of GDP annually in loss of productivity and medical expenses, a burden Ghana cannot afford,” Dr Pelpuo said.
He noted that “these figures compel us to act decisively, leveraging the tools of modern age to protect our workers and unlock the full potential of our nation”.
The minister said, fortunately, emerging technologies offer a beacon of hope by providing innovative solutions to enhance safety across diverse sectors, from the factories to the agricultural fields.
These smart tools, Dr Pelpuo stated would help monitor workers’ health in real time, detect signs of fatigue or exposure to hazardous conditions, and alert supervisors to intervene before accidents occur.
To improve workplace safety and health, he revealed that the government would unveil innovative data-driven strategies, aimed at transforming health and safety compliance across all sectors of the economy.
Dr Pelpuo said these strategies will include enhancing workplace surveillance and hazard monitoring systems, digitalising labour inspection processes, and introducing smart personal protective equipment.
The Chief Inspector of Factories, Mr George Gashon, called on employers to invest in safety technologies, and involve workers in the implementation of policies, to enhance workplace productivity.
He also said that a taskforce would be established to ensure compliance, as employers would be required to train their employees on new technologies, while safety officers would also undergo training to deliver safe systems of work.
“Additionally, machine safety and manual safety will be prioritised, and human resource departments will be required to have health and safety lessons to manage the health and safety aspect of recruitment,” Mr Gashon highlighted.
