'Editorial': That's right, call them out

News that an employer was slapped with a $5000 fine for breaching Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations is praisewor­thy.

The Ministry of Employment, Productivity and In­dustrial Relations get our thumbs up for actioning a complaint and setting a precedent for employers who continue to ignore or downplay OHS requirements.

The employer, in this case, must be named and shamed to uphold the integrity of the Health and Safety at Work Act (HASAWA) 1996 and the Health and Safety at Work (General Workplace Conditions) Regulations 2003.

It also sends out a message to other employers that they can't expect their employees to do their jobs right if they don't provide a conducive working en­vironment.

It's common sense. They must be called out.

If the employer meets the expectations of the em­ployee and vice versa, surely there would be no need for a complaint.

The fine, as we have learnt, range from the absence or lack of hand washing facilities, first aid kit, sep­arate changing rooms, hot water facilities, clean drinking water, congested dining area and proper personal protective equipment such as respiratory protection and face mask.

If we can relate the same kind of complaints this employer copped, surely there are more employers out there breaching the same, if not more.

But let's back it up to the breaches, in particular, lack of washing facilities, first aid kit, separate changing rooms, clean drinking water, a congested dining area and lack of personal protective equip­ment (PPE).

Does the employer really believe they can get away with offering their employees with an unhygienic of­fice let alone one without safe drinking water?

The United Nations General Assembly, through a resolution in July 2010, declared that safe and clean drinking water and sanitation is a human right es­sential!

So, how did the company miss this? Or was it just plain ignorance on its part?

Another issue that employers with a large work­force can attest is a congested dining area or lack thereof.

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How often do you see workers being forced to eat outside the truck loading area or on the footpath, or steps of the building?

This is simply because they don't have a proper food area or one where you can catch your breath or do a little stretch, or quiet time before employees con­tinue or complete their shifts?

It's disheartening to see these employees eating in these open spaces prone to air-borne diseases or worse, where they risk getting injured or risk their lives.

Surely, there is more to be expected from the minis­try if this is the first publicly-reported case of OHS regulations ignorance by employees.

Given that this is a matter of public interest, we call on the ministry to give the same diligence that it gave this one employee for all others. If you call out one, you have to do the same for the rest.

Additionally, we commend the complainants for bringing the workers' plea to the fore and setting a benchmark for OHS requirements.

Line Permanent Secretary Maritino Nemani put it right when he said: "In light of these penalties, we wish to forewarn all employers that the Ministry will take action against employers who are found to be in violation of occupational health and safety law and will be dealt with to safeguard the wellbeing of workers and prevent avoidable workplace incidents.

"It is imperative that employers take proactive measures to ensure compliance with safety stand­ards, implement necessary safety protocols, and regularly assess and address potential hazards in the workplace."

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