The Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) carried out a record 17,704 inspections between January and September this year, as part of a series of reforms aimed at strengthening enforcement, broadened worker protection, and led to a decline in workplace accidents and fatalities.
In a statement on Friday, Minister for Justice and Construction Sector Reform Jonathan Attard, together with OHSA Chairperson Pierre Fava and the Authority’s Chief Executive Josianne Cutajar, presented the reforms implemented in recent months during a meeting of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD).
The initiatives aim to bring about a cultural change in how health and safety at work are perceived, the statement said.
“A crucial step in this change was the introduction of the new OHSA law, which places workers’ health and safety as a top priority. We are also empowering the Authority to, after more than 20 years, update itself in line with today’s and tomorrow’s realities to become more efficient,” Attard said.
Attard said that the new law extends protection to more people, including the self-employed, volunteers, and apprentices, and introduces a modern governance structure for the Authority, with a board overseeing vision and an executive responsible for implementation.
The new law grants OHSA immediate powers in emergencies and introduces stronger deterrents for those who fail to comply with safety regulations.
A special Tribunal has also been established to handle violation cases more efficiently, with the aim of reducing the backlog, the statement said.
In the construction sector, which remains one of the highest-risk fields, the law introduced new regulations clearly defining the responsibilities of clients, project supervisors, and contractors.
The statement said that joint inspections between OHSA and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) were also introduced to make enforcement more coordinated and preventive.
As part of the reform, the statement said the government invested in a Gozo office and new training centres, to ensure every worker has the opportunity to receive training on occupational health and safety.
Among the figures presented by OHSA, it was explained that between January and September of this year, the Authority carried out a record 17,704 inspections.
This result stems from ongoing investment within the Authority, which last year (2024) conducted around 9,400 inspections, also a record year compared to previous years, which averaged about 4,000 inspections annually.
In his address to social partners, Fava explained that the board has become more proactive, strengthened internal governance - including through more frequent audits - and is working closely with the Authority’s executive to continue enhancing workplace health and safety.
Cutajar then gave an account of the changes made over the past 18 months through legislative reforms and the investment of various resources, which have led to improved operations.
She said that this improvement has resulted in a substantial increase in inspections.
“Despite the challenges that come with the different sectors under the Authority’s remit, we have not only seen a decrease in workplace accidents, but also in fatalities,” she said.
Cutajar said that the contribution of social partners has been crucial in helping the Authority identify areas for improvement and pave the way forward toward more proactive efforts and higher standards that safeguard the health and safety of all workers.
The discussion on occupational health and safety was prompted by a request from the General Workers’ Union and involved several representatives of the social partners forming part of the MCESD, the statement said.