PL04 OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH: PROBING LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS WITHIN THE AFRICAN CONTINENT
Authors: Hameed Titilola 
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Work related hazards are as old as the concept of work itself. In the presence of work are bound to be recurrences of accidents, deaths and diseases associated with such work environments. Occupational hazards are not new to man. However, the face of work has so drastically transformed, that things are now far more complicated than they used to be. Work today is greeted with several complexities brought about by industrialization and radical innovations, particularly pertaining to technology, which are constantly evolving. This has led up to convoluted work systems, which, many times, struggle to accommodate the competence levels of workers admitted to working within such industries or organizations. Unfortunately, these workers are at the receiving end and invariably bear the brunt of unpleasant work experiences, which in many cases are fatal. One primary motive of work is sustainability. The primary goal of a worker is to irk out a living, catering for his immediate needs, and perhaps the need of his dependents. Work is therefore regarded as a means to an end and should never be the means to the end of man. The role of work in the life of man, is as important as the benefits derived by his work organization, and by extension, the nation as a whole. Workers are assets to national development, hence, the premium placed on the labour forces of countries that recognise this. An economy without a viable labour force is headed for slow or no growth. The labour force of a country is the engine of its economy, and the workers are the lubricant that keep the engine running. Labour is what drives economies such that without labour, nothing prospers.

The Problem

Estimates from the ILO reveal that around the world, a worker dies every fifteen seconds from work related accidents or diseases. This translates into about three million deaths every year. That 7,500 people having to die due to unsafe and unhealthy workplace practices, of which 6, 500 die of work-related diseases and the remainder of 1000, of occupational accidents is lamentable. This reality raises cause for concern. At the regional level, with focus on the African continent, it is reported by the ILO that there are over 59,000 work-related fatalities and 4, 000, 000 non-fatal accidents occurring each year. It may be difficult to accept the figures given as an indication of the true picture because it is characteristic of developing countries, such as Asia and Africa, to grapple with the challenge of providing accurate statistics. The figures given, more often than not, fail to capture an accurate representation of the magnitude of the problem. Some African countries that were even reputed in the past for providing credible data now appear to have joined the band waggon for under-reporting.

With a total land mass area of approximately 30, 365, 000 square kilometres, covering about a fifth of the total land of the Earth’s surface, Africa is the second largest continent in the world. It is made up of 54 countries inhabiting approximately about 1.5 billion people, representing about 18% of the world’s population. It is considered an immensely diverse region, with countries ranging from low to high income. Africa is blessed with an abundance of mineral resources in large reserves, particularly fossil fuels, metallic ores, and precious stones. South Saharan Africa, for example, should by now be leveraging on its natural resources in this era of low-carbon transition, but has been prevented from doing so due to the several afflictions that the countries have to deal with.

The Reality

Research reveals that globally, there is an uneven distribution of mortality and morbidity rates amongst workers. From statistics, it is reported that Asia has the highest global work-related deaths, then followed by Africa. Statistics also show that out of 100,000 workers that suffer fatal occupational accidents, the regions of Asia and Africa rank between 4 and 5 times higher when compared to regions like Europe. The United Nations (UN) estimates a total world population of 10 billion people by 2055. It predicts a 57 percent growth of the African population by the time. The projection anticipates that the population of sub-Saharan Africa shall double by 2050, resulting in a 99 percent boost. Presently, Africa has a young population of under-25s, which make up 60 percent of the region’s population, meaning it is the world’s ‘youngest’ continent. By 2055 therefore, the workforce of Africa would have increased, greater than the rest of the world combined. This should ideally see the region positioning itself for an economic upgrade, launching it into new vistas, especially in labour productivity and per capita incomes, leading to stable economic growth. This is expected to be borne out of high-skilled talent and job creation. However, with the multidimensional challenges that burden the continent, how realistic is the attainment of this feat, particularly on the part of governments?

The Proposals

For higher levels of economic development to be achieved, it is crucial for governments in the region to demonstrate commitments that are keen and sincere to the plight of the health and safety of workers. It would be highly rewarding for governments of African countries to develop robust national occupational health and safety regimes. Governments must assume deliberate postures to cater for the present as well as the imminent young working population, set to take over the labour force. One viable way of achieving this goal is for government to revisit their regulatory policies on Occupational Health and Safety, providing legislations that copiously address health and safety challenges within the workplace. In developed climes, premiums are placed on the health and safety of workers through the observance of safety cultures, seeking to lay priority on safety beliefs, values and attitudes at the workplace. Laws established take cognizance of planning, training, analyses, hazard prevention, provision of safety rules all coupled with employee participation and management commitment. The tripartite-styled approach, as encouraged by the ILO, which acknowledges that it takes efforts on the part of the employee, the employer as well as the government in achieving a sustainable health and safety regime, particularly focusing on the prevention and protection of workers from occupational hazards. Developed countries are currently inundated with adapting to transformations in the new face of work, such as those brought about by artificial intelligence. On the contrary, within the African Continent, there are countries still battling with getting regulation right, with some laws being prescriptive-styled in approach, bearing a punitive outlook, rather than a set of provisions interested in looking out for the endangered plight of workers.

Prior Attempts

It must however be acknowledged that the Region has made attempts in the past, specifically in the year 2000, at establishing a framework for the planning and implementation of Occupational Safety and Health. It was to set a tone for the improvement of health for workers in the Region via policies for health at work, healthy work environment, work practices and occupational health services. Another similar step was taken in 2001 through a WHO-ILO collaboration. Its focus was to strengthen occupational health and safety within the Region, in response to hazardous situations found in the workplace.

Conclusion

It is regrettable that no appreciable mark has been left, in spite of these attempts. ILO records make us realize that many of these countries are not oblivious of the need to take part in curbing the spate of accidents, deaths and diseases at work. These is shown from the ratification of ILO safety standards by several of the countries. However, they, unfortunately, fail to credit the matter with the significant attention that it is deserving of. The Continent could do much better. This serves as a call to duty by the relevant governments.