Occupational Safety and Health Situation in Nepal Prof. Sunil Kumar Joshi Department of Community Medicine, Kathmandu Medical College Kathmandu, Nepal National Secretary, ICOH Nepal
[email protected]
I declare no conflict of interest
Overview of Presentation • OSH management and needs, challenges, gaps and way forward in Nepal
OSH Management
OSH Management in Nepal • Inadequate policies • Inadequate Participation of Workers
• Lesser Accountability • Fewer capacity building initiatives • Absence of communication
• Lacks clear defined OSH objectives • Negligible hazard prevention measures
• Lacks holistic efforts • Poor Collaboration
• Lacks appraisals, reviews and monitoring mechanisms • Poor communication
Major obstacles in OSH practices Nation • Lack of adequate qualified and skilled manpower • Lack of Focal Point at government ministries • Lack of Legal back up mechanisms • Lack of National strategy for OSH Management • Lack of list of Occupational Diseases and conditions • Poor review, appraisal, evaluation and periodic monitoring
Major obstacles in OSH practices Employers • Isolation and overlooking of OSH issues, not existing in informal sectors • Given low priority • Poor institutionalization • Lack of commitment and effort • Lack of ripple effects of OSH practice
Major obstacles in OSH practices Workers • Uninformed • Absence of collective bargaining skills • Conflicting political motives • Risk taking behavior • Lack of PPE use
Way forward • There is an immediate need for enacting OSH specific legal tools and their enforcements • Formation of apex government body specifically for OSH • Necessity to build the capacity of State, employers and workers on OSH • Studies and publications on OSH in Nepal
Labour Regulations to be approved soon by the Parliament
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
THANK YOU
