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The East African Portland Cement Company recently conducted the first ever en masse occupational health examination for its employees in an effort to ensure a healthy work force.
The exercise, carried out in accordance with the Factories and Other Places of Work Act, targeted workers in all departments, irrespective of whether one’s job entails operating from the factory area.
“Even the top management took the test. This was not an ordinary medical examination, but an occupational health observation to control health hazards at the work place,” says Mr Paul Bartich, the Safety and Health Officer, who was involved in organising the exercise.
Saying that the response from staff was impressive, Mr Bartich added that the examination was carried out by a team of occupational health specialists recommended by the Directorate of Occupational Health and Safety Services in the Ministry of Health.
The exercise, which will be carried out annually, was aimed at ensuring that people were aware of their health statuses and the hazards they were exposed to as they worked.
Those with minor health complications were given drugs and a process of monitoring their health initiated, while those with major complications were put on immediate treatment.
“This process is very important because management can make redeployment or replacement decisions based on one’s health. It will also help in making decisions to reduce occupational hazards,” said Mr Bartich.
Portland now joins other manufacturing companies that have complied with the Act that was reinforced by Legal Notice No. 24 of April 2005. This strengthens the company’s case in its pursuit for universal standards recognition, such ISO certification.
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