Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1471699
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 26 JUNE 2022 12 COMMERCIAL Health and safety in the construction industry EVERY industry comes with at least some level of risk, though the danger level varies widely. The construction industry is one of the most critical areas of industry when it comes to injury statistics, but the majority of the risks related to it can be avoided by taking the proper health and safety measures. Hence, it is for this reason that a Memorandum of Understand- ing has been signed between the Building and Construction Authority, BCA, and the Occu- pational Health and Safety Au- thority, OHSA, to safeguard the interests of people working in the construction industry and third parties. This MoU makes clear the roles of the two authorities vis- à-vis health and safety issues on sites. Both parties, the BCA and OHSA, are committing them- selves to developing a strong working relationship that en- sures the utmost collaboration in investigations carried out by the two parties in those cas- es where they both have an in- terest, thereby diminishing the possibility of incongruities in the outcome of said investigations. Is as a result of any investigation carried out by either party, legal action will be initiated, the par- ties shall cooperate through the exchange of information and reports of investigations as nec- essary. This MoU was signed by the Chief Executive Officers of both the BCA and the OHSA, Mr. Jesmond Muscat and Dr. Mark Gauci respectively, in the pres- ence of the Minister for Public Works and Planning, Dr. Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi. Through this agreement, the Building and Construction Au- thority will be acting on reports made with either authority. These include reports of nui- sance to third parties, com- plaints about construction sites, and abandoned machinery in violation of Environment Site Management regulations, com- plaints about lack of permits to prevent cars from parking in front of construction sites, among other things. It is clear- ly mentioned in the MoU that if a report does not fall under the BCAs responsibility in accord- ance with law, it would immedi- ately be informing the OHSA to do an investigation immediately and vice versa. Meanwhile, the Building In- dustry Consultative Council, BICC, is offering a nine-hour course to those who have en- tered or are about to enter, the construction and civil engineer- ing industry. The course gives an awareness of health and safety and how it affects daily roles. Al- so, it can serve as a preparation for acquiring the Construction Industry Skill Card or as a re- fresher training. This course mainly gives an awareness of health and safety and how it effects the daily tasks of various roles found in the construction and civil engineer- ing industry. This enables its ap- plicants to obtain the safety card on successful completion of the course, which enables them to gain access to construction sites. The safety card will be manda- tory to access such sites as from January 2024. These health and safety mod- ules aim to focus on 12 key main topics which will be thought throughout the course. When the course is complete, a short 20 multiple choice examination is carried out which enables the student to obtain the health and safety card with a 50% pass mark. The nature of the construction industry means there is perhaps a stricter requirement for ensur- ing safety. Ongoing education and en- gagement will help to instill and maintain awareness of the po- tential hazards the general pub- lic might face on a daily basis and will equip developers and contractors with the knowledge and skills to mitigate these risks, continuously improving the sit- uation as they go. Ongoing education and en- gagement will help to instil and maintain awareness of the po- tential hazards the general pub- lic might face on a daily basis and will equip developers and contractors with the knowledge and skills to mitigate these risks, continuously improving the sit- uation as they go.