There was organized a conference by UBT, on behalf of “Word Day of Safety and Health at Work”

30/04/2020

On the behalf of the World Day of Safety and Health at Work, in the framework of the conferences which are being regularly organized by UBT, there was elaborated the topic, namely, “Safety and Health at Work in pandemic time”. The conference was open to the general public through UBT Television platforms, Radio Campus, as well as UBT’s Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube pages.

 

The opening of the conference was carried by the Rector of UBT, prof.dr. Edmond Hajrizi, who among others claimed that this conference is being organized in the framework of the World Day of Safety and Health at Work, and is dedicated to a debate, which aims to provide knowledge both in professional and academic perspective for the general public at this time of pandemics.

 

Therefore, professor Agim Shaqiri, while about the causes of diseases and health risks of workers, assumed that in relevance to the World Health Organization, 268 million accidents occur every year, from which 160 million are cases related to emerging of new diseases and stressed that work injuries and professional diseases today cost 4% overall worlds budget.  “According to this organization, every year 2.7 million workers die in accidents at work, statistics show that every 15 minutes a person dies,” said Shaqiri.

 

The Chief Executive Officer of the Labor Inspectorate, Valon Leci, speaking about health in the workplace, stressed that the Labor Inspectorate in the Republic of Kosovo is not satisfied with the security situation and the health situation at work, but he emphasized that this situation is encouraging and there is done a rapid improvement. “Unlike 2018, 22 accidents at work have ended fatally, while until 2019 we had 11 accidents, so we have a significant decrease. Of course, this is a significant decrease, but even a single person if he loses his life is a lot. Therefore, I think that it is an impressive and encouraging situation where there has been witnessed a rapid improvement to the extent of 50% “, emphasized Leci.

 

Despite the fact, he came up to a conclusion that the legislation in the Republic of Kosovo is well drafted and is in line with EU directives, which is built with the support of EU experts and associations. Whereas, according to him now we are only asked to implement in practice.

“In terms of safety at work, the biggest problem lies with the health of workers, and this problem is now growing in the situation of pandemics. Security is at the right level, we only need the strengthening of monitoring mechanisms such as the advancement of human resources, the advancement of logistical and technological elements in order to be more inclusive in overseeing the implementation of the law “, underlined Leci.

Meanwhile, the President of the Kosovo Association for Safety and Health at Work, Fatmir Saraçini, announced that one of the biggest works done within the association is the translation of the manual for the fight against COVID 19, which is dedicated to members of hospitals and health. These manuals contain the most advanced practices of hospitals especially the Chinese ones who were the first to face this war.

In this regard, while tackling the history of the Kosovo Association for Safety and Health at Work – KOSHA, which was established in 2009, Saraçini said: “Kosovo as a state had a long break in its activities related to safety and health at work. compared to Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, and I can say that for this short time, Kosovo has reached the step with other countries and now is the time to just move forward and advance. ”

Furthermore, professor Hazir Çadraku, underscored that risk assessment is a legal obligation which is regulated by the Ministry related to the identification and prevention of risks, and calls are made for all institutions, whether public or private. As a result, it is a legal obligation which shall be fulfilled. Meanwhile, Çadraku added that UBT has managed to create a team which is comprised of 5 experts and now this situation is managed within the appropriate standards.

 

In addition, while talking about the sectors that are most attacked by risks, Valon Leci put it that the construction and electricity sectors, are the most endangered sectors by risk in terms of safety and health at work. “Above all, safety and health at work is a culture, where our citizens and society must raise it, because it is impossible to send a labor inspector to each subject to control the situation. I am very pleased that UBT has developed this culture at a very high level, implementing and incorporating it in certain academic subjects “, added Leci.

Moreover Professor Muhamet Ahmeti claimed that being aware of the danger particularly in the construction sector, the faculty of civil engineering at UBT, has always given priority to raising awareness among young people and the preparation of new staff who respect these measures.”In the July of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, we have foreseen 3 subjects in which we are preparing the new cadres to approach the objects and identify the problems which arise time to time. In the meantime, problems that may probably lead to risks are scrutinized on regular basis. Consequently, we have also organized numerous debates not only at the UBT level but also at the general level in Kosovo to raise public awareness about this risk “, noted Ahmeti.