News & Events

This page contains information on news and events on occupational health and safety in Malta.

[08/08/03]

European Week for Safety and Health at Work (6 – 12 October 2003)

• Sejha ghal Nominazzjonijiet - Prevenzjoni Effettiva ta´ Riskji minn Sustanzi Perikoluzi fuq il-Post tax-Xoghol

• Sustanzi Perikoluzi - Uzahom bil-Galbu!

• Call for nominations - Successful prevention of risks from Dangerous Substances at Work

• Application Form - European Week Good Practice Awards 2003

[28/03/02]

Lm150, 000 donated to Government in deal to acquire Occupational Health & Safety Authority Premises

The Ministry for Social Policy has over the past months concluded negotiations on behalf of the Occupational Health and Safety Authority on the acquisition of property from the Maria Bugeja Cancer Support Foundation. The property situated in Edgar Ferro' Street, Gwardamangia will serve as the new premises of the Occupational Health & Safety Authority which is expected to increased its workforce during the coming months, to be able to effectively carry out its legal obligations and promote safe working practices and standards.

As part of the sale agreement, the Maria Bugeja Cancer Support Foundation has donated approximately 50% of the sale amount to Government for the purpose of purchasing equipment or finance projects related to oncology as agreed to and approved by the said Foundation and/or its appointees and the competent Government Health authorities. The donation amounts to Lm150, 000 and will be held by Government in a specially named fund.

The Ministry for Social Policy wishes to show its recognition of the initiative taken by the Maria Bugeja Cancer Support Foundation which will result in significant benefits in the best interests of patients suffering from cancer related illnesses.

GOOD PRACTICE AWARDS: PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS

Between the 22nd and the 28^th October 2001, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority, organized an information campaign aimed at making workplaces healthy and safe. This campaign is being organized across Europe and bears as title: Success is no Accident. Similar to what happens in other countries, even in Malta, thousands of people are injured in workplace accidents

It has to be highlighted that the majority of workplace accidents can be prevented by good management practice and by following the relevant legislation and Codes of Practice. This is the message being conveyed during this campaign: Accidents can be prevented. The campaign urges businesses and organizations to focus on ways of improving health and safety at the place of work.  

For the first time, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority in Malta has launched awards in three areas:

• Health and Safety Management Initiative Awards

• Building and Construction Industry Initiative Awards

• SME Initiative Awards.

Private companies, Government departments, parastatal organisations which propose and implement any initiative that promotes, safeguards or raises awareness on  occupational health and safety, may apply for the award, as well as any other individual or entity which produces, launches or implements any other tool, by which to promote occupational health and safety.

All applicants will receive a certificate from the Occupational Health and Safety Authority in Malta as recognition of the initiative taken. Those who receive an award will also be eligible to refer to this fact in any corporate communications so as to enhance the overall company reputation.

Dates

The closing date for submission of proposals is the end of April 2002. The award giving ceremony will be held during the European Week 2002.

[30/01/02]

Visit to Malta by Dr. Alan Whitehead MP - UK Minister for Health and Safety

Speech by the Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Social Policy Dr. Lawrence Gonzi on the Occasion of the visit to Malta of Dr. Alan Whitehead – UK Minister for Health and Safety

“Today is quite a significant day for the Ministry for Social Policy as it brings to fruition three years of ground laying and foundation building. Just today, we are bringing into full force all the provisions of the Occupational Health & Safety Authority Act, 2000, thereby setting the Authority as an institution with full legal personality and jurisdiction. Concurrently, we are empowering the OHSA to perform its enforcement role through the setting up of the Appeals Board. We are publishing new regulations concerning the provision of First Aid. Not to mention the imminent publication of the revised Minimum Health & Safety Requirements Regulations, and regulations concerning Health & Safety signs, as well as those concerning the protection of workers working with VDUs. Another score of regulations is currently being lined up for publication. The twinning project continues to build on these achievements. It will be solely focused on the strengthening of the institutional capacity building seeking to establish the OHSA as a leader in worker protection, the promotion of risk-free work environments and the guarantor of proper ethical working standards and practices; We have employed significant effort, during the selection process, to ensure that the chosen twinning partner possesses the right attributes to assist Government to bring about the required changes within our national health & safety context - we are today satisfied with the choice made and our co-operation with the British and Irish executives will be secured; The Twinning Agreement also brings to the fore the pre-accession benefits of EU Membership. Although membership with the Union entails the necessary alignment of national legislation to the acquis communautaire, regulations and directives, the Commission ensures that proper assistance is given to assist candidate member states build their capacity for membership. Together with this twinning project the Commission will, in the coming year, be forwarding a total of 700,000 Euros, out of the pre-accession funds, to assist our country to upgrade its occupational health & safety infrastructure. And this is the tangible proof of commitment for enlargement by the Union. Since 1994 we have made great strides forward in occupational health & safety. Thanks to the Commission for the Promotion of Health & Safety at Work, the precursor of the now OHSA, we have managed to raise awareness amongst the social partners and the public at large on the ethical, social and economic costs of workplace accidents; We have noted a moderate reduction in workplace accidents, greater awareness on the part of employers, and increased commitment by employer's representatives to uphold worker's protection in health & safety matters. We are however, neither satisfied nor complacent with the present state of affairs; As you Minister Whitehead referred to in your address, there is an ethical, social and economic premium to non-compliance or negligence. We are just days away from the first occupational fatality this year. Barely three days ago, we witnessed the accidental death of a construction worker. I must re-iterate, that this life is one life too much and our commitments must focus on the elimination of such incidents which bring so much suffering and grief to the victims and their families; We are also socially responsible to tap our human resource. Occupational health and safety enhances performance resulting in increased productivity, hence profitability while sustaining corporate reputation. We seriously think that employers need to take up their obligations more seriously in this respect; On the economic front, a reduction in costs incurred to the public purse by occupational accidents can easily be ploughed back into the economy in the form of increased protection and safeguards for common gain. The present expense incurred on the social security and health bills can be controlled with increased efforts to enforce proper health and safety practices. We have a declared strategy for occupational health and safety matters. We intend to:

·        Facilitate the observance of regulations;

·        Empower proper observance of good practice;

·        Monitor compliance and non-compliance;

·        Respond forcefully to cases of non-compliance.

You as twinning partners are being solicited to own this strategy and assist our Maltese executives to bring it to fruition. We are aware that culture needs time to change. Change however needs to be catalyzed and managed well and we have comfortable reason to believe that this twinning project can assist us to make it happen. Allow me to thank all those who have laboured so hard to realize this project. The Regional Directorate at the Office of the Prime Minister, the Occupational Health & Safety Authority, the UK Health & Safety Executive, Ireland's Health & Safety Authority, the British High Commission and lastly and gratefully, the European Commission”.

[14/12/01]


HSE help for Malta´s occupational health and safety services

For the first time technical assistance will be provided for Malta's occupational health and safety services by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), after a successful bid for European funding.

The project, which will be funded by the European Union for 12 months, is a joint venture between HSE and Ireland's Health and Safety Authority. Work has already started on making the necessary administrative arrangements. The project will provide assistance to the government of Malta on practical aspects of European health and safety law, and will also help raise awareness of hazards and risks in the workplace.

Kate Timms, HSE´s Deputy Director General, said: “This successful bid represents a recognition of the expertise that HSE can provide to applicant countries. We are looking forward to working with Malta´s Occupational Health and Safety Authority and its chief executive, Dr Mark Gauci.” Frank Cunneen, Chairman of Ireland's Health and Safety Authority, said: "I am delighted to work with the HSE on this important project".

Howard Pearce, British High Commissioner in Malta, said: "I am very pleased that the United Kingdom and Ireland have been successful in bidding for this project. They will be able to build on the contacts that the High Commission has established with the Maltese Health and Safety Authority. Both countries have a long and successful track record in health and safety, and I am sure that all concerned will benefit and learn from the work."

Dr Mark Gauci, Chief Executive Officer of the Maltese Health and Safety Authority, said: "As the national organisation responsible for health and safety, we recognize the benefits possible when health and safety are promoted and safeguarded at places of work. We also realize the mammoth task involved, and that we can never have all the resources required to achieve this on our own. We thus appreciate the importance of ensuring that employers and workers understand the hazards and risks that they face every day, and we welcome the help that this project represents. I am looking forward to working with our British and Irish colleagues and learning from their experience."

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Social Policy, Lawrence Gonzi, highlighted the fact that this twinning agreement represented a contribution of 700,000 Euros by the European Commission towards Malta as part of the Pre-Accession Funds. Dr Gonzi remarked: "This shows a veritable commitment by the Commission to assist the Maltese Government to set up the Occupational Health and Safety Authority." The Social Policy Minister added that this augured well for the coming days, when the covenant between the HSE and Occupational Health and Safety Authority is to be drawn up. It will include a detailed plan of the deliverables across a twelve-month period.

1.      The EU´s twinning programme assists applicant countries to the European Union to establish an effective, efficient and sustainable administration to guarantee the implementation of Community legislation. It provides funding for secondments for administrative and organisational support. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Ireland´s Health and Safety Authority have successfully bid, in competition with other Member States, to provide technical assistance to Malta´s occupational health and safety services.

2.      HSE´s representative on the project is Stuart Bullock. He has worked with HSE for 16 years, is a law graduate, and a Member of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. He has held a number of posts in HSE and is currently Head of the Policy Branch responsible for Work Equipment and Machinery Safety. He has had previous experience of working on twinning projects and in 1992/3 was an adviser to the Ministries of Labour of the Czech and Slovak Ministries of Labour.

3.      Enquiries about Ireland's involvement in the project should be made to: Frank Cunneen, Chairman, Health and Safety Authority, 10 Hogan Place, Dublin 2, Tel: 00 353 1614 7108.

4.      The UK supports enlargement for both political and economic reasons - the benefits it can bring to UK trade and prosperity. Assisting applicant states to implement Community health and safety legislation helps assure proper standards across an enlarged Union and provides for a level playing field for UK business.

Public Enquiries:

Ministry for Social Policy Malta – Alan Camilleri (Communications Co-ordinator)

HSE's InfoLine, tel: 08701 545500,

HSE Information Services, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly, CF83 3GG

[29/11/01]

Malta closes negotiations on Social Policy and Employment

Malta moved one step further in EU negotiations today when it closed negotiations in the key area of social policy during another session of the conference on Malta's accession to the European Union held in Brussels at the level of Deputies. Malta's delegation was led by the Chairman of the Core Negotiating Group, Mr. Richard Cachia Caruana.

This brings the number of chapters where Malta has provisionally closed negotiations to nineteen out of a total of twenty-nine chapters open for negotiations at this stage. During today's session, Malta also successfully negotiated four transitional periods.

These are the following:

·        transition period until January 2006 for the local industry to adjust work equipment to higher health and safety standards;

·        a transition period until January 2004 for the local industry to raise standards on the prevention of risks caused from noise at work;

·        a transition period until January 2004 for industry to raise standards on the prevention of risks at construction sites;

·        a transition period until July 2004 to implement workers' rights on the organisation of work and on working time.

A new round of discussions was also held today on the area of competition, which is another important area in negotiations. In this area, amongst other things, Malta is requesting a transition period of seven years to allow the country sufficient time to implement a restructuring plan in the shipbuilding and shiprepair sector.

Addressing the conference, the Chairman of the Core Negotiating Group, Mr. Richard Cachia Caruana, welcomed the closure of negotiations on Social Policy and Employment and in particular the agreement reached on the four transition periods. He said that the outcome of negotiations in this area came after months of intensive talks not just between Maltese and EU officials but also among social partners in Malta. He said that whereas Malta fully endorsed EU standards in the working world and in other aspects of social policy, it had only requested a longer period of adjustment in the case of four EU laws where a longer period of adjustment for industry was necessary. He said that Malta has deliberately attached a great deal of importance to social dialogue throughout the accession process in general and in the negotiations on social policy in particular. The result of negotiations on this important area was therefore also a tribute to social dialogue.

Turning to negotiations on competition, Mr. Cachia Caruana said that over the coming days, the Task Force on the restructuring of the shipbuilding and shiprepair sector that is chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister will present a concrete and realistic plan aimed at achieving financial and economic viability for this industry by 2008. He also referred to other recent developments in this area, including the enactment of the Business Promotion Act which provides a modern package for attracting value-added investment in Malta.

Concluding, Mr. Cachia Caruana expressed his hope that further progress would be registered in negotiations in time for the Ministerial meeting that will be held in Brussels in two weeks' time.

This afternoon's session was also addressed by Ambassador Frans van Daele, on behalf of the Belgian Presidency. The Presidency expressed its satisfaction at Malta's progress in negotiations also in the light of what was reported in the Regular Progress Report that was recently published by the European Commission on all candidate countries, including Malta.

The session was also addressed by Mr. Eneko Landaburu, Director-General for Enlargement in the European Commission who expressed his satisfaction at the closure of negotiations in social policy. On competition, Mr. Landaburu said that Malta still needed to submit further information to justify its requests in the area of ship-building and ship-repair as well as with respect to the state trading monopoly (Enemalta) in the importation, stocking and sales of petroleum products as well as on the Tour Operators Support Scheme (TOSS) and tax incentives granted under Malta's previous industrial development law.

Responding to this point, Mr. Cachia Caruana said that technical discussions on the specific issues should continue but they must also be accompanied with an awareness of the political sensitivities that are involved.

Mr. Cachia Caruana was accompanied by Mr. Victor Camilleri, Malta's Ambassador in Brussels, Dr Simon Busuttil, Head of the Malta-EU Information Centre, Ms. Graziella Pullicino, Co-ordinator in the EU Negotiations Secretariat and by a number of officials from Malta's Embassy in Brussels.

Transition periods obtained by Malta:

·        transition period until January 2006 for the local industry to adjust work equipment to higher health and safety standards;

·        a transition period until January 2004 for the local industry to raise standards on the prevention of risks caused from noise at work;

·        a transition period until January 2004 for industry to raise standards on the prevention of risks at construction sites;

·        a transition period until July 2004 to implement workers' rights on the organisation of work and on working time.

Explanatory note on the Transition periods Obtained by Malta

[26/10/01]

Joint Press Conference - Official Visit of EU Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou

Speech by the Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Social Policy Dr. Lawrence Gonzi on the Occasion of the visit to Malta of the EU Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou

Your Excellency Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is a pleasure for the Maltese Government to welcome Commissioner Diamantopoulou to Malta at a time which I can best describe as exciting for us all. Her Excellency´s visit coincides with some vital initiatives which my government will be launching in a few days and which will represent a quality leap in our social policy, particularly our employment laws.

This morning, Commissioner Diamantopoulou and myself discussed the present status of Malta´s negotiations regarding the social policy chapter. We have together reviewed the progress made so far and we look forward to closing this chapter at the earliest opportunity.

The main areas that were discussed include the updating of our labour legislation, gender equality issues, occupational health and safety, social dialogue, our preparations for participation in the European Social Fund on membership, and employment.

In the context of this last topic, this morning, HE Commissioner Diamantopoulou and myself signed the Joint Assessment Paper prepared by Malta and the European Commission´s Directorate General for Employment and Social Affairs in accordance with the Accession Partnership Agreement.

This document represents an agreed set of employment and labour market objectives necessary to advance Malta´s labour market transformation, to make progress in adapting the employment system so as to be able to implement the European Employment Strategy and to strengthen our preparation for accession to the European Union.

The document highlights two main challenges – we need to increase the participation rate, especially that of our female population and we need to invest further in our human resources in order to increase the skills level of our workforce.

Substantial progress has already been made on a number of areas identified by the Joint Assessment Paper.

In a few days, we will be publishing the White Paper proposing a totally new Employment law which will, amongst other things, introduce concepts in line with our target to increase the female participation rate. Most of these are family friendly measures that have already proved to be very successful when introduced into the public sector.

The second major challenge identified in the JAP, is that related to continuing education and training as well as vocational education. Even here, we have this year redressed the imbalance which had developed in our higher education systems across generations. We have set up the first Vocational College aimed at providing an alternative route to academic formation through University. We have also set up the Council for National Vocational Qualification Certification.

Commissioner Diamantopoulou`s visit also coincides with Malta´s Health and Safety week. This year, the emphasis is on prevention. This is another area where we have registered substantial progress over the past months. The new Occupational Health and Safety Authority has been set up and it is presently building its administrative and technical capacity with the help of the expertise and financing of the European Union.

All these areas represent a culture change which we are determined to bring about. We are convinced that implementation will bring about substantial benefits to our economy and more importantly to our social fabric.

[05/09/00]


‘Dur Dawra Ma Dahrek´ - Kampanja ta´ Informazzjoni dwar Sahha u Sigurta´ fuq il-Post tax-Xoghol

Kampanja Nazzjonali favur gharfien ahjar tas-Sahha u s-Sigurta fuq il-post tax-Xoghol giet imnedija llum mill-Agent Prim Ministru u Ministru ghall-Politika Socjali Lawrence Gonzi waqt Konferenza tal-Ahbarijiet li saret fil-fabbrika Brandstatter gewwa Bulebel.

Il-Kampanja li qed tigi organizzata mill-Ministeru ghall-Politika Socjali u l-Malta-EU Information Centre hija parti minn kampanja Ewropea li tnediet aktar kmieni din is-sena mill-Agenzija ghas-Sahha u s-Sigurta fuq il-Post tax-Xoghol tal-Unjoni Ewropea. Madwar l-Ewropa kollha ghalhekk, fix-xahar ta´ Ottubru, kull pajjiz membru jew applikant gie mistieden sabiex jorganizza gimgha ta´ attivitajiet sabiex jippromwovi prattici tajbin ta´ xoghol sabiex jitnaqqas ir-riskju ta´ mard, ugiegh jew problemi ta´ sahha. F´Malta din il-gimgha ser issir bejn id-9 u l-15 ta´ Ottubru.

Din il-gimgha ghandha l-appogg wkoll ta´ organizzazzjonijiet ta´ min ihaddem u unions ta´ haddiema madwar l-Ewropa. Kemm l-ILO u l-ETUC fil fatt hejjew programmi dettaljati ta´ inizjattivi fuq bazi nazzjonali. It-tema ta´ din il-kampanja tirrigwarda dak li jissejjah Musculo-Skeletal Disorders (MSD). Dawn jinkludu kundizzjonijiet b´firxa wiesa´ ta´ problemi ta´ sahha primarjament ugiegh fid-dahar, u ugiegh ikkawzat minn xoghol ripettittiv li jinvolvi t-thaddim ta´ l-idejn u r-riglejn.

Il-Ministru Gonzi habbar li ser jittiehdu numru ta´ inizjattivi kemm mill-Ministeru stess, kif wkoll inizjattivi flimkien mas-siehba socjali u korpi kostitwiti. Dan huma l-inizjattivi li ser jittiehdu:

·        Produzzjoni ta´ leaflet informattiv u poster li f´dawn il-jiem qed jigu impustati lil kull persuna li jhaddem u lill-Unions kollha. Din ifisser 35,000 persuna ser jigu mgharrfa bir-riskji relatati ma´ prattici ta´ xoghol hziena;

·        Kampjana bill-billboards imxerrda mal-pajjiz li ser iddum tlett gimghat u li hija mtella´ flimkien mal-MIC, mal-BICC, mal-UHM, u l-GWU;

·        Serje ta´ tlett spots televisivi li juri b´mod l-aktar car kif ghandu jsir l-irfiegh ta´ oggetti tqal, iehor dwar kif ghandu jsir xoghol manwali ripetittiv u iehor dwar xoghol li jirrikjedi hinijiet twal bil-qieghda;

·        Tnieda studju li ser jevalwa u janalizza l-frekwenza ta´ problemi relatati mal-MSD fl-industrija tal-kostruzzjoni;

·        Seminar ta´ gurnata li ser igib flimkien il-Gvern u s-Settur Privat f´diskussjoni u presentazzjoni ta´ programmi li jharsu sahhet il-haddiema fuq il-post tax-xoghol;

Matul din il-gimgha ser jigu ppublikati wkoll regolamenti godda dwar l-usu tal-VDU, jigifieri regolamenti li jipprotegu lil dawk kollha li jahdmu fit-tul quddiem kompjuter jew screen. Dawn is-sett ta´ regolamenti li jirriflettu l-ispirtu kollu tad-direttivi tal-Unjoni Ewropeja f´dan ir-rigward ser jidhlu fis-sehh fl-1 ta´ Lulju tas-sena 2001


Il-mesagg tal-Ministeru huwa sabiex kull min ihaddem, kif wkoll is-siehba socjali jinghaqdu u jissiehbu f´din il-kampanja ta´ gimgha billi jiehdu inizjattivi favur l-eliminazzjoni tar-riskji relatati mal-MSD, kif wkoll inizjattivi ohrajn li jharsu s-sahha u s-sigurta´ fuq il-post tax-xoghol b´mod in generali.

Il-Ministeru f´dan is-sens, minbarra li ser jiehu l-inizjattiva huwa stess ser iservi ta´ ko-ordinatur ta´ l-inizjattivi kollha u jippubblika programm shih ta´ attivitajiet li jkunu ser isiru f´din il-gimgha.

Dur Dawra Ma Dahrek hija kampanja li tixtieq iggib flimkien lil kull min hu responsabbli sabiex jhares sahhet il-haddiem fuq il-post tax-xoghol tenna il-Ministru Gonzi. Huwa qal li minn studji ricenti jidher bic-car li nuqqas ta´ sahha u sigurta fuq il-post tax-xoghol jistghu joholqu pizijiet finanzjarji kbar, kemm fuq il-Gvern kif wkoll fuq l-Indistrija.Statistika nazzjonali tindika li l-prezz ta´ incidenti relatati jew ikkawzati fuq il-post tax-xoghol huwa stmat li jammonta ghal madwar Lm28 miljun lira fis-sena.

Huwa sahaq l-importanza tas-sahha u s-sigurta´ fuq il-post tax-xoghol u qal li din hija fattur ewlieni li jista´ jnaqqas il-produttivita´ tal-haddiem filwaqt li johloq danni kbar lil-industrija ghaliex jaghmel hsara kbira lir-reputazzjoni ta´ intraprizi, anki dawk zghar u medji, u ghalhekk hemm bzonn li kulhadd jiehu r-responsabbilta´ sabiex nizviluppaw ambjent aktar b´sahhtu sabiex intejbu l-kwalita´ tal-hajja tal-haddiem filwaqt li nkomplu nghinu sabiex l-ekonomija tkun aktar b´sahhitha.

[27/03/00]


Health & Safety at Work - A National Priority

Press Release

The Ministry for Social Policy in conjunction with Jon David Ltd., have the pleasure to announce a national conference on Health & Safety at Work. This event is being perceived as another occasion of public private partnership in matters which are of national interest and which safeguard the well-being of employees in the diverse sectors of work environments and organisations. Amongst others, Permanent Secretaries, Directors, Chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers within the Public and Private Sector are being invited together with representatives of the Constituted Bodies and Political Parties to participate.

The Conference shall concentrate on Occupational Health & Safety as a national priority and for this reason, Sir Neville Purvis, Director General of the British Safety Council will deliver a keynote speech on the Impact of Health & Safety on Corporate Reputation. Dr. Mark Gauci, Head of the Occupational Health and Safety Unit within the Department for Industrial and Employment Relations will also outline the current developments and the vision which the government will be implementing in the short term.

The afternoon session will then be dedicated to company presentations portraying a variety of OHS practices and products. HSBC, Simonds Farsons Cisk, Technology In Management Limited, the Building Industry Consultative Council and Jon David Ltd. will be participating partners. For the afternoon session, shop-stewards and health & safety officers are being invited to participate. A Personal Protective Equipment exhibition will be set-up for the occasion, and personal computers portraying H&S software packages and computer-based H&S Training will be on demonstration.

The Conference which is being organised free of charge shall be held on the 11^th April 2000 at the Corinthia Palace Hotel, Attard and will include a lunch break. Further information can be obtained from the Communications Office of the Ministry for Social Policy either by phone (2590 3446), fax (250143) or e-mail (social.policy@gov.mt). Requests for participation will be treated on a first-come first-served basis owing to limited seating capacity. The Conference premises is fully accessible and refreshments will be offered. Besides the above sponsors, this Conference is also being held with the collaboration of AirMalta, and the Corinthia Palace Hotel, Attard, Malta.