A Call for Action to Improve Occupational Health and Safety in Ghana and a Critical Look at the Existing Legal Requirement and Legislation

Abstract

Occupational health and safety (OHS) is a broad field of professional practice, which involves specialists from different disciplines including but not limited to engineers, occupational health physicians, physical and biological scientists, economists, and statisticians. The preventive systems required to ensure workers are protected from injuries and illnesses dwell heavily on engineers; however, the extent to which the engineer can go regarding planning and implementing preventive measures is dependent on specific legal requirements, leadership commitment from the company, organization, and nation. The objective of this paper is to identify the areas of opportunities for improvements in OHS management in Ghana with regard to the nation's legal requirements, commitment of the Ghana government, and Ghanaian leadership as well as appropriate structuring of Ghanaian institutions responsible for monitoring and managing OHS in Ghana. This paper identified Ghana's fragmented legal requirements concerning OHS, which are under different jurisdictions with unclear responsibilities and accountabilities. The paper also highlights the training needs of Ghanaian academic institutions regarding OHS. Among other recommendations made including structuring of Ghanaian institutions to manage OHS in line with the ILO-OSH 2001, this paper aligns the recommendations with the articles and elements of International Labour Organization convention number 155 and OHSAS 18001 elements.

Revised health and safety compliance model for the Ghanaian construction industry

“…155) has contributed to the OHS challenges in Ghana. This development has affected the construction industry as indicated by Annan et al (2015). Kheni et al (2008) identified inadequate government support for regulatory institutions and lack of skilled human resources.…”

“…Dadzie (2013) also identified H&S training deficiency, inability to assess danger and workers reluctant attitudes towards H&S. Human resources development and inadequate OHS capacity for the industry has been indicated as some of the challenges (Puplampu and Quartey, 2012). Even though, the concept of OHS in industries was conceived in Ghana before the introduction two major edicts (Annan et al, 2015). The existence of some fragments of OHS legal requirements under jurisdictions of different agencies in Ghana has led to the OHS challenges in Ghana (Annan et al, 2015).…”

“…Even though, the concept of OHS in industries was conceived in Ghana before the introduction two major edicts (Annan et al, 2015). The existence of some fragments of OHS legal requirements under jurisdictions of different agencies in Ghana has led to the OHS challenges in Ghana (Annan et al, 2015).…”

“…The existence of several regulatory bodies in Ghana have compounded the OHS challenges (Annan et al, 2015) …”

“…This indicates the need for the development of the H&S compliance model to assist in the elevation of the existing OHS challenges. Annan et al (2015) posited that the challenges were due to the existence of some fragments of OHS legal requirements under jurisdictions of different agencies. A study by Mustapha et al (2015) on the examination of safety performance regulations concluded that the exclusion of the International Labour Organization (ILO) convention number 155 in Ghana is a major factor.…”