Safety Day for Workers

If improving safety performance is one of your New Year’s resolutions, we’ve identified seven essential elements to help you get there. Read on to learn what others have done to reach the top.

1. Engage employees. Involving employees in the safety process permits them to demonstrate their commitment while building pride, ownership, and skills. Start with an employee survey to identify the issues that matter most to your workers and where they feel improvement is needed. Involve employees in safety planning. Send them out to divisions of your company or other businesses to learn about best practices.
2. Identify and report hazards. The process of eliminating a hazard starts with identifying and reporting it. One large industrial site posts a safety logbook at each of its locations. Employees are encouraged to enter risks or safety concerns into the book. Another proven tactic is maintaining a library of up-to-date job hazard analyses (JHAs).
3. Get the most from your managers and supervisors. Managers and front-line supervisors have the most direct access to workers. Their actions, reactions, and attitudes can have a huge impact on employees’ safety performance. Make sure your managers and supervisors:

• Routinely discuss safety at staff and employee meetings;
• Attend and participate in safety committee meetings;
• Conduct facility walkarounds, noting best practices or areas in need of improvement;
• Use coaching and feedback to encourage safe behaviors;
• Launch accident investigations as soon as possible and follow up to identify corrective actions; and
• Make it clear to employees that they may shut down an operation if they believe conditions are unsafe or unhealthful.

1. Put it in writing. OSHA considers a written safety and health program the gold standard. If you don’t have one, you should. You also need a safety and health mission statement that aligns with your corporate goals and culture. Communicate the statement to all employees, customers, contractors, and suppliers and feature it on your website. Codify your safety policies and practices into a document that is easy for managers and employees to consult and use.
2. Be ready. Emergencies don’t just happen to the business down the road. You’ve got to be prepared for a wide range of unexpected events. An emergency plan should be inclusive and reflect all possible contingencies. It should be site-specific and based on a thorough hazard assessment as well as an understanding of risks specific to location, weather patterns, etc.
3. Use OSHA resources. True, OSHA is the enforcer. But the agency is also interested in helping employers comply with the law, protect workers from illness and injury, and stay competitive in the market. OSHA has grouped its compliance assistance resources on a single web page, https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/compliance_assistance/resources.html.
4. Get involved in health and wellness. Compliance with safety and health regulations is your duty under the law. While there are no comparable laws governing diet, exercise, and stress, many experts agree that these factors play a role in keeping employees present and productive. Research points to a drop in medical costs of more than three dollars for every dollar invested in wellness, and a drop in absenteeism costs of more than $2 for every $1 spent. Programs range from informal walking groups at small workplaces to comprehensive programs at larger sites with onsite clinics, classes, healthy cafeteria options, and sponsored sports teams.

President Kenyatta Labour Day Speech 2017

This year’s Labour Day celebrations held at Uhuru Park, Nairobi County came with some ‘goodies’ for Kenyan workers and even companies. Speaking on behalf of President Uhuru Kenyatta, Labour Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yattani announced a five per cent increase in minimum wage. CS Yattani also said the government is working to create more jobs by widening investments and stabilizing the country’s political environment and called for dialogue to end the ongoing strikes. Raila Odinga observed that corruption has contributed to unemployment in Kenya. He also revealed that job creation is among the nine agendas in his unity deal with President Uhuru Kenyatta. The opposition leader also urged his supporters to end the boycott of selected products including Safaricom, Bidco, Haco and Brookside. “I, therefore, lift the boycott order we had issued against the four firms. We’ve forgiven Safaricom, Bidco, Brookside and Haco. Our people can now trade, use and buy products from these firms,” said Raila Odinga. Stay informed while on the go by subscribing to the Standard Group SMS service. Text the word 'NEWS' to 22840. Raila however asked the government to reduce the price of basic commodities as opposed to merely increasing salaries as workers end up losing the money when manufacturers raise prices to recover costs. Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko announced that the county government and Workers Union will begin to roll out a voluntary early retirement plan for the city workers in bid to reduce the wage bill. He, however, emphasised that no one would be sent home by force and the process would be fully voluntary. “Let me stress that this exercise will be voluntary, no one will be forced to retire if they feel that they can continue being productive,” said Governor Sonko during the Labour Day celebrations held at Uhuru Park, Nairobi. COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli lauded the Uhuru-Raila unity deal saying it has boosted the economy. “Na wakati nilianza kusema hawa watu wasalamiane mlisema kichwa yangu ni mbaya. (People called me crazy when I said these two, Uhuru and Raila, should ‘shake hands’). The economy is now up!” said Atwoli. He also called for equity, fair sharing of national resources and jobs for all, urging Kenyans to supports four pillars of development spelled out by President Uhuru Kenyatta. “Our unity as a nation has earned us much as COTU. We must support the four pillars mentioned by our President. They are close to our hearts,” continue the COTU leader. Speaking on the amendment of labour laws, Francis Atwoli noted that are many policy makers who stand with the workers and are willing to fight for their rights. “If there’s a good working relationship, we will minimise strikes,” said Atwoli. Atwoli also called for gazettement of the ban of taxation on benefits, bonus and overtime performed for those earning less than Sh100,000 as stated by President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2016 to push its implementation.
Read more at: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2001278852/labour-day-goodies

Labour day

Labour Day is celebrated in various countries around the world. This is one day that is exclusively dedicated to the labour class. However, unlike various other days we celebrate, this one did not originate that easily.

It all began with the rise in industrialization. The industrialists exploited the labour class. They derived a lot of work from them but paid them meagrely. Labourers were made to work for 10-15 hours a day in tough conditions. Those who worked in chemical factories, mines and other similar places suffered all the more. Many of them fell ill and many others lost their lives working under such circumstances for long hours.

Finally, they took the courage to stand united and raise their voice against this tyranny. Around that time, forming trade unions and going on strike was also considered illegal in many countries. However, even as it meant risking their job, many labourers came forward to protest against the injustice they were going through. Trade unions were formed and labourers went on strike. They also carried out rallies and protests. Eventually, the government heard their plea and the working hours were reduced to 8 hours. A special day to celebrate the efforts of this class was also set. The date of Labour Day varies from country to country.