Workers with disabilities - Malta

Introduction

The aim of this web feature is to provide practical information on how to ensure the safety and health of workers with disabilities in Malta, and to facilitate the integration and retention at work of people with disabilities. The web feature includes:

A great deal of additional information is also available from the Agency's web feature on people with disabilities at http://osha.europa.eu/good_practice/person/disability.Many of these links are to good practice guidance and case studies from the workplace. These may not be directly applicable, and may need to be adapted to the context and needs of an individual workplace.

Risk assessment:

Measures to protect people with disabilities from workplace hazards should be based on a prior risk assessment. A risk assessment is nothing more than a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can judge whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm. The aim is to make sure that no one gets hurt or becomes ill. A risk assessment involves identifying the hazards present in any undertaking (whether arising from work activities or from other factors, e.g. the layout of the premises) and then evaluating the extent of the risks involved, taking into account existing precautions. It should identify any individuals particularly at risk. The results of a suitable and sufficient risk assessment should help users choose which good practice measures are most appropriate to prevent risks in general and also to prevent risks to any individuals identified as being particularly at risk.

The adoption of any policies and measures should always be carefully planned, and carried out with consultation of the workforce and their representatives as a key component of success. This should include the active involvement of workers with disabilities. It is also good practice for those with health and safety responsibilities and roles in the workplace and those involved with equalities issues to work together.

Some important definitions of key terms:

Disability: covers both physical and mental impairments and covers all employees who might be hampered in work performance. This includes people with long term or progressive conditions as well as people with more stable disorders.

Principle of equal treatment: absence of direct or indirect discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation as regards employment and occupation.

Direct discrimination: occurs where one person is treated less favourably than another is, has been or would be treated in a comparable situation, on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation as regards employment and occupation.

Indirect discrimination: occurs where an apparently neutral provision, criterion or practice would put persons having a particular religion or belief, a particular disability, a particular age, or a particular sexual orientation at a particular disadvantage compared with other persons.

Personal tools

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

Workers with disabilities - Malta

Introduction

Risk assessment:

Some important definitions of key terms: