The Editor,
In recent history, health and safety management has been found as a central part of our day to day activities because it enhances our moral ability to protect and enjoy a healthy workplace setting which strengthens our security in Liberia.
Safety management assures, provides and motivates employees to work in dangerous environments knowing that their welfare is taken care of through the implementation of a concept of a comprehensive safety management action.
As complex as this is, safety management has undergone a tremendous reform to protect human society, while on the other hand, it is known to be the pillar that strengthens the gap between employers and employees in the corporate world.
Therefore it is the obligation of the Liberian government to create and promote safety policies aimed at protecting workers from workplace injuries, death, and other associated illnesses.
Environmental health and safety management is an important component of a safe work environment because it protects human health and safety in the workplace.
In regard to this, environmental health and safety regulations should be the hallmark that provides protection for Liberian workers. Safety management and regulations should help maintain a wide-ranging of safety standards and they should be required by law.
Therefore establishing a comprehensive safety policy will enable companies in our country to aggressively pursue accident prevention initiatives at all levels of their operation.
Liberia’s environmental health and safety policy must have the propensity to empower senior management to provide an alternative technique of protection for its employees, thus preventing workplace accidents. For example, negative safety behaviors have led to systematic safety failures and deficiencies at the Liberia Agriculture Company a few years ago.
These problems often lead to constant accidents, neglect, abuse and other health related cases. This example clearly indicates that the Liberian government needs to establish a comprehensive safety and regulatory policy that will lead to the enactment of the National Occupational Safety and Health Act of Liberia, geared toward protecting Liberian workers nationwide.
If established, the Act should call for the periodic review, inspection, and implementation of policies and procedures for occupational health and safety measures that affect thousands of workers around nationwide.
The Liberian government should initiate vigorous safety, legislative reforms and policies that include: health and safety inspections that seek to identify potential deficiencies, worksite analysis, management leadership, employee participation, hazard prevention, emergency response, safety and health training, accident prevention and other measures.
It is vital to note that such safety policies will be the hallmark that scrutinizes any Liberian firm’s obligations to protect workers from work-related hazards and reveals a clear analysis of how the regulation is implemented.
Such safety policy will also provide safety information to employers and employees regarding potential hazards in the workplace as well as address the current health and safety needs at the national level. These policies should be integrated into employer’s environmental health and safety programs, goals, and objectives within an inclusive “safety” management structure of all companies operating in Liberia.
The Liberian government should place emphasis on recognizing the need to shape and reinforce its current regulations to reduce injuries and fatalities. The government should also focus its attention on fostering greater partnerships with worker unions in the private and public sectors and employees because it will motivate whistleblowers to report all health and safety violations from within.
The government should establish a policy initiative that provides periodic job safety assessments to identify potential hazards and reveal conditions such as abuse, neglect and other willful violations in the workplace.
This will strengthen the government enforcement policy and lessen all impending danger in the workplace. It will also serve as the basis for fundamental health and safety standards and continued performance improvements, thus leading to the reduction of workplace injuries and illness in Liberia.
Emmanuel Logan, Co-founder – (ESHCON)
[email protected]