Law to seek medical tests on workers

Minister Ernesta and guests viewing one of the stands at the exhibition Monday

Workers in certain occupations will be required to undergo specific periodic medical examinations when new regulations are introduced soon.

The employees who must be examined will be those in high risk jobs, for example those working in excessively noisy environments or in areas where harmful chemicals are used.

The Minister for Social Affairs and Employment, Mr Dolor Ernesta, announced this Monday September 29 within the lobby of Praslin Airport when he launched this year's Safety Week.

"Many workers in industry are exposed to chemicals and physical hazards which can cause diseases such as noise-induced deafness and chemical poisoning," he said, after noting that Seychelles Government considers the protection of workers' health and safety from occupational hazards to be of paramount importance.

He also announced that organisations with staff beyond a number to be specified will need to have full time professional safety officers in order to ensure that safety measures are properly applied so as to minimise or prevent occupational accidents.

The ministry's director of occupational health and safety, Mr Kevin Aglae, told Nation that the proposed regulations have already been approved by the Occupational Health and Safety Board.

"The regulations now only need the approval of the Cabinet and should therefore be in force as early as next month," he said, adding that the frequency at which the tests will be carried out will depend on the nature of work and appertaining risks.

He said the need for the inclusion of the law had arisen due to evolvement of work conditions since more chemicals and increasingly more advanced equipment are in use now than before.

"It is the employers who will foot the bills for the medical examination," he said, adding that the launching of Safety Week which also saw an exhibition was for the first time done on Praslin to sensitise people on the island on safety issues.

"There has also been a noticeable increase in the number of accidents on Praslin. Previously there were reports of only one or two accidents, but now we get as many as six in a month," Mr Aglae said.

Guests at the ceremony were also addressed by secretary general Antoine Robinson of Seychelles Federation of Workers' Union and executive secretary Gilbert Beaudoin of Association of Seychelles Employers, both of whom underscored the benefits of observing safety at work.

The area's Member of the National Assembly for Grand Anse, Mr Nobert Lepathy also addressed the guests, and thanked organisers of Safety Week activities for hosting "an event of that magnitude and importance on Praslin."

At Monday's ceremony guests also had the chance to view an exhibition reflecting this year's Safety Week theme: "Managing risks to increase productivity and development."

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