Swahili
MINISTER SANGU: OSHA INSPECTIONS DRIVE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MINING SECTOR
The Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Employment and Relations), Hon. Deus Sangu, has said inspections conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Authority (OSHA) have contributed to significant improvements in Tanzania’s mining sector.
Hon. Sangu made the remarks after visiting the Mining Sector Exhibition currently underway at the Dkt. Samia Suluhu Hassan Grounds, Bomba Mbili, in Geita.
He said the improvements were important in strengthening workplace safety and health, as the mining sector continues to make a significant contribution to the country’s economy.
He added that the annual World Day for Safety and Health at Work celebrations, held in April, have helped raise awareness and encouraged greater participation among mining sector stakeholders in efforts to improve workplace safety and health through the knowledge they acquire.
The Minister also commended OSHA for conducting training programmes for entrepreneurs through extensive outreach campaigns aimed at reaching more business operators and equipping them with the knowledge needed to improve safety and health in their workplaces.
“We have moved from an OSHA focused on enforcement to a new OSHA whose approach is to enable businesses and various sectors to focus more on production rather than viewing the Authority solely as a regulatory body,” said Sangu.
For her part, OSHA Executive Director, Ms. Khadija Mwenda, said the Authority’s participation in the exhibition aims to provide education on occupational safety and health, facilitate the registration of workplaces, and offer health screening services.
Mwenda said mining sites present various hazards that can affect workers’ safety and health. She explained that OSHA considered it important to participate in the exhibition to reach stakeholders, provide safety and health education, and bring its services closer to the public.