The National Occupational Health, Safety and Workers Compensation Services under the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment in their commitment to ensure a safe and healthy Fiji workforce will conduct a two-day Control of Hazardous Substance training for Chemical Industries in Fiji at the Centre for Training Development on September 29 and 30 in Suva and in the Western and Northern Divisions later this year.
The Minister for Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment, Mr Filipe Bole said that these trainings were crucial for our workforce because any neglect while utilizing hazardous substances could lead to serious or fatal injuries or occupational diseases, which would cost the life of a person and undue waste of resources.
Dangerous goods, if not properly managed, have the potential to cause immediate harm to people, property and the environment due to the possibility of a fire, explosion, and release of toxic, flammable, or corrosive materials during storage or handling incident.
Mr Bole emphasized the training would enhance the employers and workers knowledge and skills on the safe handling and use of work place hazardous substance with the proper protective equipment, to recognised standard, in their workplaces and thus will minimize potential to exposure to hazardous substance in those workplaces.
He asserted that any manufacturer, importer or supplier of a substance must, before first supplying the substance for use at workplace, determine whether the substance is a hazardous substance in accordance with an approved classification system and must provide to the ministry a written document known as Material Safety Data Sheet in relation to a chemical or a product or substance containing a chemical.
Mr Bole emphasized that under Part 3 of the Control of Hazardous Substance Regulations 2006, it is the employer’s responsibility to make arrangements for ensuring safety and absence of risks to health in connection with the use, handling, storage or transport of plant and substances and to provide in appropriate languages such information, instruction, training and supervision as may be necessary to ensure the health and safety of workers.
This is in line with the modern risk workplace chemical management requirements in our workplaces as promoted in the legislation.
After the training, participants will be able to conduct risk assessment of workplace chemicals used and be aware of the effects of hazardous substances to both the workers and the environment.
All workers need to be proactive in locating potential risks and manage them accordingly. Thus, Mr Bole urges participants to capitalize on this training, equip themselves with these skills and knowledge and cooperate with their employers in developing safe and healthy work procedures for a safe and healthy working environment.
The minister finally appealed to employers to thoroughly observe and comply with the provisions of the Labour Laws and develop the health & safety standards at their workplaces; protecting the health and well being of their workers and contribute towards creating a safe and healthy Fiji workforce.