The Effectiveness Of The Occupational Safety And Health Act In Protecting Employees In Uganda

ABSTRACT

The study is an exploratory design carried out in Uganda which sought to; analyze

effectiveness of the law governing occupational safety and health in protecting

employees; establishing the circumstances that lead to the abuse of the rights of

employees at the workplace; to examine the legal challenges experienced in addressing

occupational safety and health issues of employees; to suggest ways to counter the

weaknesses and excesses in addressing occupational health and safety in the protection of

employees. The study relied on qualitative methods of data collection and analysis to.

generate data.

The findings reflect that much as OSHA has been instrumental in covering safety and

health issues in all workplaces, it still leaves a lot to be desired, with employers

exploiting the gap of absence of inspection to compromise the requirements of OSHA as

they continue to expose workers to unsafe and unhealthy work conditions, moreover with

a failure to compensate them. The research concluded that; by introducing the OSHA to

supplement other laws, appears contrary pmiicularly in addressing occupational safety

and health issues, instead the other law seem to be acting to supplement OSHA as per

Section 118. The intention of which OSHA was formed was to address and outline

obligations of employers and employees while at the workplace in order to promote.

workplace security and health. The law has minimized occupational risks but is still with gaps which can be addressed to extend social security to all workers to have an empowered workforce free from duress. The study recommended that; Raising awareness; making consultative arrangements, recruiting of more inspectors, developing a code of ethics for employers to pursue self discipline; developing safety committees at the workplace; reviewing existing legislation, and regular reporting to the parliament by the commissioner oflabor.