Fiji to soon have more strategies to minimise risks at workplace

Fiji can soon expect to see more consistency and control of occupational hazards with strategies being developed and implemented in the workplaces to minimize risks.

This was highlighted by the Minister for Employment Jone Usamate while opening a four day workshop on Occupational Health Services and Hygiene Training.

Usamate says this workshop will help employers and employees to understand the risks and improve working conditions and practices.

He adds that with better understanding of such workshops, risks can be reduced or eliminated and brought under control.

Usamate shared amongst the participants that the International Labour Organisation has estimated that over 2.3 million fatalities occur as a result of occupational accidents and diseases while 300 million accidents occur in the workshop each year.

The four‑day workshop will allow health officials to reduce the number of fatalities within the workplaces, lower social and healthcare costs as well as maximizing worker potential and efficiency.