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Writes Chimeno Azriel
The National Social Security Authority (NSSA) and the Zimbabwe Occupational Safety and Health Council (ZOSHC) are hosting a tripartite workshop on protection against biological hazards in the workplace at the Kadoma Hotel and Conference Centre in Kadoma.
The three-day workshop which started on Monday ends today, Wednesday 16 April 2025.
The workshop aims to promote occupational safety and health by providing a platform for stakeholders to discuss the importance of protecting workers from biological hazards that pose significant risks to workers’ health.
The tripartite workshop brings together representatives from government, employers, and employees to discuss the challenges and opportunities in protecting workers from biological hazards. This collaborative approach will enable stakeholders to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices in promoting occupational safety and health.
Participants expect to build engagement and consensus among social partners regarding the draft proposed protection against biological hazards convention.
The tripartite workshop at the end will give insights into a possible statutory instrument on protection against biological hazards in Zimbabwe.
In a speech read on his behalf by Director of Labour Administration, Mr. Clemence Vusani, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and ZOSHC Chairperson, Mr. Simon Masanga said that there was a need to take proactive measures to safeguard the workforce from vulnerabilities that exists within the workplaces.
“The recent global health crisis has highlighted the vulnerabilities that exist within our workplaces and it has underscored the urgent need for effective strategies to protect our employees. It is essential that we learn from these experiences and take proactive measures to safeguard our workforce,” said the Permanent Secretary.
He urged the participants not just to learn about the profound impact that workplace conditions have on the safety and health of the workforce, but to collaborate and forge a path forward and prioritize the well-being of every worker who is in high-risk workplaces.
Biological hazards refer to infectious agents that can cause adverse health effects in humans. They include microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Toxins are poisonous substances produced by living organisms such as plants and animals. Allergens are substances that can trigger allergic reactions such as pollen, dust, or chemicals, and bioactive substances that can affect living organisms such as hormones or enzymes.
Understanding biological hazards is crucial to maintaining workplace, safety and protecting employees’ health. Exposure to biological hazards has become a major issue of both occupational and public health concern.
The tripartite workshop on protection against biological hazards in the workplace, as expected, attracted a diverse range of attendees including government representatives with officials from relevant government ministries and departments such as labor, health, and environment, employers’ representatives, employees’ representatives, occupational safety and health experts and industry stakeholders.
