Seven fatality cases were reported last year through the workplace Injury form - Usamate

Seven fatality cases were reported last year through the workplace Injury and Diseases Notification Form.

This was highlighted in the Minister for Employment Jone Usamate’s written response to Opposition MP Ro Kiniviliame Kiliraki’s question to inform the house on the number of near-miss OHS accidents and actual OHS accident reports received by the Occupational Health and Safety Unit for 2017.

It has also revealed that of the seven fatality cases there were 3 motor vehicle accidents, 1 case related to mining and quarrying,

1 case related to manufacturing, 1 case related to the sea transport sector and 1 case related to the fishing industry.

He says some of the cases have been resolved with compensation payments paid while some others are still being investigated.

A total of 258 injury cases were reported in 2017 through the workplace Injury and Diseases Notification Form.

Usamate also revealed that of the 258 injury cases, 226 were male workers and 32 were females workers.

He has also revealed that the number of near-misses reported is carried out and monitored by the individual employers and is not captured in the Notification of Workplace Injury and Disease Form that is required to be submitted to the Ministry of Employment.

The Minister for Employment has also stressed the monitoring of near-miss incidents or occurrences at the workplace ensures that organizations develop programs on near-misses to identify and implement corrective actions at workplaces and prevent future accidents from happening.