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The OccupationalHealth and Safety

Authority

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17, Edgar Ferro Street, Pieta’

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The future, mirrored in the past?

OHSA Act brought fully into force on 29th January 2002.

Activities:Workplace visits – 5000Equipment certificates vetted – 9000Hours of training delivered – 2500Staff development man hours – 4500Press releases / letters to editors – 150Sets of regulations published – 22

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Prosecutions (2005 data)

Decided cases – 57Pending cases – 49New cases – 63

(Average number of Court Sessions per case: 2 – 3)

(Fatal accidents – average number of sessions for compilation of evidence: 1/month)

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Other non visible activities:

• EU reporting duties• bureaucratic systems (paperwork

etc)• liaisons with other local entities,

Ministries, Government Departments• attendance at meetings• preparatory work for all events• etc, etc

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Projects managed by OHSA

• Refurbishment of new premises – Lm300,000

• UK/EIRE/Malta Twinning – 980,000euros• Malta/UK/Europe Action Plan – 100,000euros• 2 EU Agency for Safety& Health Projects –

120,000euros• Transitional facility – 400,000euros• SLIC Construction campaign – 50,000euros

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Other EU/Malta interactions• At least three formal evaluation visits

(OHS, Seveso, RaSSIA {Safety and Security of RA sources})

• Multiple audits• Participation in Working Groups / Parties

(Indicators, Manual Handling of Loads, Hospital Sector, Construction, Committee of Competent Authorities)

• Participation in meetings of statutory bodies (SLIC, ACSH, EU Agency for Safety and Health, D.G.’s Meeting)

• Evaluation of LIs of other Member States (Greece, Italy)

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Other international organisations

• UN• International Atomic Energy Agency• WHO• International Association of Labour

Inspectorates

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Local groups

• Bulk storage of LPG Committee• Civil Protection Scientific Committee• Integrated Pollution Prevention and

Control Committee• Bio-safety Coordinating Committee• Pesticides Control Board• BICC• etc

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Other activities

• NAPO / school visits• Website (8172 visitors in May 2006)• Construction campaign• Organisation of European Weeks (4 weeks)• Publication of leaflets• Participation in TV / radio programmes• SMEs Initiative• Participation in Fairs (4),

Exhibitions (6)• Public Talks• etc

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 L.N. 371/2005 - Work Place (Minimum Health and Safety Requirements for the Protection of Workers from Risks resulting from Exposure to Vibration) Regulations, 2005

L.N. 06/2005 - Control of Major Accident Hazards (Amendment) Regulations, 2005L.N. 283/2004 - Protection of Young Persons at Work Places (Amendment) Regulations, 2004L.N. 282/2004 - Work Equipment (Minimum Safety and Health Requirements) Reg., 2004L.N. 281/2004 - Work Place (Minimum Health and Safety Requirements for Work at Construction Sites) Regulations, 2004L.N. 185/2004 - Work Place (Minimum Health and Safety Requirements for the Protection of Workers from Risks arising from exposure to Noise) Regulations, 2004L.N. 41/2004 - Work Place (Minimum Requirements for Work) (Confined Spaces and Spaces having Explosive Atmospheres) Regulations, 2004L.N. 379/2003 -Protection of Workers in the Mineral Extracting Industries through Drilling and Workers in Surface and Underground Mineral Extracting Industries Regulations, 2003

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L.N. 228/2003 - Protection of Workers from Risks related to Exposure to Biological Agents at Work Regulations, 2003L.N. 227/2003 - Protection of the Health and Safety of Workers from the Risks related to Chemical Agents at Work Regulations, 2003L.N. 123/2003 - Protection of Workers from the Risks related to Exposure to Asbestos at Work Regulations, 2003L

.N. 122/2003 - Regulations on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work, 2003

L.N. 121/2003 - Minimum requirements for the use of personal protective equipment at work regulations, 2003L.N. 120/2003 - Regulations establishing a first list of indicative occupational exposure limit values on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work, 2003L.N. 37/2003 - Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations, 2003 Arrangement of Regulations

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L.N. 36/2003 - General Provisions for Health and Safety at Work Places Regulations, 2003L.N. 35/2003 - Protection against Risks of Back Injury at Work Places Regulations, 2003L.N. 34/2003 - Factories (Night Work by Women) (Repeal) Regulations, 2003L.N. 45/2002 - Workplace (Provision of Health and, or Safety Signs) Regulations, 2002L.N. 44/2002 - Workplace (Minimum Health and Safety Requirements) Regulations, 2002L.N. 43/2002 - Minimum Health and Safety Requirements for Work with Display Screen Equipment Regulations, 2002L.N. 11/2002 - Workplace (First Aid) Regulations, 2002L.N. 10/2002 - Occupational Health and Safety Appeals Board (Procedural) Regulations, 2002L.N. 92/2000 - Protection of Maternity at Work Places Regulations, 2000

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L.N. 91/2000 - Protection of Young Persons at Work Places Regulations, 2000L.N. 52/1986 - Factories (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations, 1986L.N. 25/1984 - Power Presses Regulations, 1984L.N. 34/1976 - Steam and Hot Water Boilers

Regulations, 1976L.N. 96/1968 - Building (Safety) Regulations, 1968L.N. 47/1964 - Factories (Hoists and Lifts)

Regulations, 1964 G.N. 340/1954 - Factories (Superintendence and Control of Plant) Regulations, 1954

Chapter 169 Factories Ordinance of 1953 - Dock Safety Regulations, 1953

Chapter 169 Factories Ordinance of 1949 - Factories (Woodworking Machinery) Regulations, 1949

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Pending legislation

• Amendment to noise legislation• Amendment to asbestos legislation• Amendment to OELs• New legislation on optical radiation• New legislation on EMF

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Pipeline EU projects

• Twinning Light – 2007• Healthy Workplace Initiative• Leonardo e-learning initiative• European Weeks 2006, 2007 etc• Structural Funds – 3 initiatives• European Inspection campaigns –

Asbestos, Manual Handling, Construction Safety

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OHSA Construction Campaign

Carried out in Spring / Autumn 2005• 263 sites visited• 4 OHS Officers involved• Specific training to OHS officers

given prior to campaign

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Percentage compliance at time of visit

Yes No

Prior Notice 21 79

H&S Plan 9 87

Full compliance

Broad compliance

Limited compliance

No compliance

Falls from height

7 29 39 25

Falling objects 10 36 34 20

PPE/Signage 14 32 25 29

General ambience

24 41 20 15

Workplace transport

32 58 8 2

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OHSA interventions

Verbal orders 59%

Cessation of works

10%

Prosecution 31%

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EU OSH Strategy: 2007-2012Salient features of ongoing discussion:• In comparison with previous strategy,

should be less ambitious, more achievable• Should include clear, measurable

objectives and targets• To stress importance of OHS

mainstreaming• To focus on implementation of existing

legislation• Drive towards Better Regulation

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• To seek alternative, equally successful enforcement systems

• To solicit more meaningful social involvement and participation

• To foster dialogue• To be alert to new challenges and

emerging risks

EU OSH Strategy: 2007-2012

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1. An achievable strategy, with measurable objectives

2. OHS mainstreaming3. Implementation of legislation4. Better Regulation5. Alternative enforcement systems6. Dialogue and social participation7. New challenges and emerging risks

Malta’s framework strategy

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Synergism with unions

• OHS of mutual interest• Keep yourselves informed• Operating within parameters of legislation• Workers’ Health and Safety Representatives• Promote OHS Management systems – also in

collective agreements• Go through the proper channels• OHS NOT an afterthought or to be used as

an arm-bending mechanism:OR YOU LOSE CREDIBILITY

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• In requesting OHSA assistance – be patient please – OHSA must prioritise its actions

• Promote/participate in OHSA initiatives eg EW activities

• Participate in OHS network• Be proactive!• Assist in identifying emerging risks –

teleworking, changing contracts of employment

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THANK YOU