The government and the OHSA have underlined the usefulness of a free interactive risk assessment platform, that is aimed at mainly supporting small and micro enterprises identify health and safety risks and providing them with prevention and control measures which they can implement.

OiRA is an interactive risk assessment platform designed by EU-OSHA (the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work) to support employers to carry out risk assessments at the workplace by identifying the prevention and control measures to protect the health and safety of the workers. Proper risk assessment is the key to a safe and healthy workplace, besides being a legal requirement.

The Occupational Health and Safety Authority in Malta (OHSA), in collaboration with the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, developed the first OiRA tool, Office Work, in Maltese.  Requests from employers for an English version of this tool followed. Subsequently, four more OiRA tools for specific sectors, in English, were developed and adapted to Maltese occupational health and safety legislation. The sectors covered by these tools are Psychosocial, Generic, Working in Offices and Catering.

OHSA CEO Mark Gauci said that small businesses generally have less time to provide training and information regarding health and safety and also tend to be reactive, or wait for OHSA intervention. Sometimes they see health and safety as an added burden due to costs, he said.

This tool, however, makes it easy for them to conduct a free risk assessment online, via PC, tablet or smartphone at no cost, and it does not require any tech skills to use, he said.

"It is designed in a way that people using it can satisfy the requisites in law."

Minister for Public Works and Planning Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi said that all workplaces have health and safety obligations, including offices.

He said that this free tool is important for small businesses to conduct risk assessments. "These will help small enterprises carry out their obligations without a financial committment."

"We cannot see these obligations as a burden, but as a way of having more secure workplaces that are more productive and positive for those working in them."

The tool can be accessed here: https://oiraproject.eu/en/oira-tools