PR - Occupational Safety and Health (O.S.H.) on construction sites is essential. 

Construction sites are inherently risky places to work and that risk must be managed professionally to ensure the protection of all workers and visitors. After all, injuries impact upon not only those on the site, but also their families and dependents. 

At the Maota Fono construction project site at Mulinu’u, O.S.H. is paramount – in fact it is at the centre of all operations.

Each day begins with a “toolbox” meeting where the construction team gathers to discuss the planned activities for the day, identify the O.S.H. risks they can foresee and propose solutions to manage those risks and reduce the possibility of accidents. 

All workers and visitors are required to wear personal protective equipment (P.P.E.) including hard hats, high visibility vests and safety boots. 

The system is self-administered - any worker identified without the necessary P.P.E. is required to buy lunch for their co-workers! This is a very effective method of enforcement. 

All new workers and sub-contractors to the site are required to undergo a O.S.H. induction briefing. Visitors are required to report to the 24 hour manned security entry post and will not be permitted entry to the site without the correct P.P.E. 

There are first aid kits and fire extinguishers on site. A number of the construction team are trained in first aid. There is also a strict “zero tolerance” to smoking, alcohol and drugs on the site.

The construction team embrace this professional approach to O.S.H. 

Craig Construction Limited (C.C.L.) is the appointed Contractor for the Maota Fono project and responsible for all OSH on the site. C.C.L’s Managing Director, Francis Craig puts it this way “Health & Safety of our crew is very important to our company.  Our staff knows that and individual responsibility on the jobsite is the key to working safe”.

The benefits of the O.S.H. systems implemented by C.C.L. are proven in the statistics. 

To date there have been zero accidents on site.

Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labour (M.C.I.L.) is the Government authority responsible for regulating O.S.H. in workplaces under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 2002. 

M.C.I.L. Occupational Safety and Health Inspectors have visited the Maota Fono construction site and noted that the O.S.H. systems being implemented by C.C.L. is in line with statutory obligations.

The approach taken to OSH on the Maota Fono project is to be applauded. 

After all, workers go to work with the expectation that they can return home to their families at the end of the day without injury or incident. 

At Mulinu’u they are taking proactive steps to ensure that this occurs. 

The Government of Samoa, with the generous support of the Government of Australia, is redeveloping the Maota Fono at Malae o Tiafau, Mulinu’u.

The project is expected to be completed at the end of May 2018.