By Staff Reporter
WORKERS will soon have the right to refuse tasks that pose imminent danger to their safety or health under a new law being proposed by the Government.
The Occupational Safety and Health Bill, gazetted last week, seeks to enhance workplace safety, reduce work-related accidents and ensure employees operate in healthy environments.
It states that workers will have the right to propose preventive measures in cases where danger is imminent. It also protects them from dismissal or any other prejudicial treatment for exercising their rights in this regard.
The Bill seeks to establish a governance framework for occupational safety and health, through the establishment of the Zimbabwe Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Council and the Department of Occupational Safety and Health under the National Social Security Authority (NSSA).
Clause 13 reinforces the duty of employers to provide and maintain a working environment that is safe and free from unacceptable health risks.
It also spells out the rights of workers, granting them the authority to refuse work that presents imminent danger to their safety or health if such risks have not been addressed.
“Every worker shall have the right to refuse to do work which is likely to cause imminent danger to his or her safety or health, which has not been rendered safe,” reads the Bill.
“Workers and their representatives in an undertaking shall be entitled to adequate information on measures taken by the employer to secure occupational safety and health and may consult their representative organisations about such information.
“Workers and their representatives in the undertaking shall be entitled to appropriate training in occupational safety and health during paid working hours.
“Workers shall be entitled to be consulted by employers on all aspects of occupational safety and health associated with their work and may propose preventive measures.”
The proposed law states that workers will have the right to propose preventive measures, and protects them from dismissal or any other prejudicial treatment for exercising their rights in this regard.
Official Occupational Safety and Health data shows that in 2022 Zimbabwe recorded 4 912 serious accidents and 76 fatalities in workplaces.
In 2023, there were 4 334 serious accidents and 60 deaths, while in 2024 the figures stood at 4 242 accidents and 70 fatalities.
During the first two months of this year alone, 720 workplace injuries and 12 deaths were recorded.
Most of these cases occurred in high-risk sectors such as mining, construction, manufacturing and agriculture.
NSSA records show that accidents often stem from poor safety standards, lack of protective clothing, outdated equipment and inadequate training.
Occupational diseases, especially those linked to exposure to dust, chemicals and unsafe machinery, have also been a growing concern.
Authorities believe that strengthening occupational health and safety standards will not only protect workers but also improve productivity and reduce economic costs associated with workplace injuries and diseases.
The Bill also sets out NSSA’s role in occupational health, ensuring that the necessary structures and systems are in place both within the authority and in workplaces to guarantee compliance with international occupational safety and health conventions to which Zimbabwe is a signatory.
Clause 5 establishes the Medical Bureau of Occupational Diseases, to be appointed by NSSA and staffed with health experts.
Its role will include conducting medical examinations related to workplace health, as well as certifying individuals suffering from occupational diseases.
“Every employer must have occupational health services programmes and systems for the purposes of surveillance of the working environment which include — hazard identification and risk assessment; assessment of personal protective equipment and clothing; assessment of exposure of workers to hazardous agents by valid and generally accepted monitoring methods; and assessment of control systems designed to eliminate or reduce exposure,” reads the Bill.
“Every employer shall carry out risk-based surveillance of workers’ health assessments to protect the health of workers as prescribed.”
The proposed law will soon be tabled before Parliament.
The relevant portfolio committee is expected to conduct public hearings to gather input from stakeholders before presenting a report that will pave the way for debate in the House.
Labour experts have long argued that the absence of a comprehensive occupational health law has left many workers vulnerable, with some employers prioritising production over safety.
