Safety Beyond Compliance
By Francis Maingaila ♥️
Lusaka, Zambia — (28-04-2026) -- Zambia is shifting workplace safety beyond compliance, placing stronger focus on protecting human life, dignity, and overall wellbeing, as deserving individuals and institutions are recognised for their role in advancing safer work environments.
The Zambian Government, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, said the country is redefining workplace safety to reflect modern risks in the world of work.
Speaking on behalf of Labour and Social Security Minister Brenda Tambatamba, Director of Human Resources Gretson Chipala said occupational safety is now being broadened beyond physical hazards to include mental, emotional, and social wellbeing.
He said this shift is central to ensuring that workplace systems protect human life, dignity, and productivity in a more holistic way.
He said factors such as workload, working hours, job security, workplace relationships, and organisational support systems directly affect employee health, wellbeing, and productivity.
“When these conditions are positive, employees are engaged and productive. When they are poor, they contribute to stress and reduced performance,” Chipala said.
He noted that psychosocial risks, driven by technological change, rising performance demands, and evolving workplace structures, must be treated with the same seriousness as traditional occupational hazards.
Chipala said government is strengthening occupational safety systems through policy reforms, enforcement of labour regulations, and institutional capacity building, while promoting the integration of safety into organisational management systems across sectors.
He emphasised the need to accelerate the shift from reactive responses to prevention-based systems that identify and manage risks before harm occurs.
He added that national development is closely linked to worker wellbeing, noting that safe and healthy employees are a key driver of productivity, efficiency, and sustainable economic growth.
Chipala said the new approach places equal emphasis on psychosocial wellbeing as part of occupational health and safety, alongside physical safety considerations in the workplace.
Speaking during the inaugural National Safety Awards ceremony at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, Zambia Safety Awards (ZASAA) President and Patron Helen Mwamba said the shift demands accountability from all stakeholders.
“This is not just about recognition, but about accountability,” Mwamba said, emphasising that improving workplace safety requires deliberate and coordinated action.
The awards brought together government officials, industry leaders, and labour representatives, all reinforcing the need to move from policy discussions to practical implementation of safety measures.
Mwamba said the event also offered a moment of reflection on how workplaces protect human life, dignity, and wellbeing.
“Safety is not an option; it is a fundamental condition of work. We must move from reacting to incidents to preventing them through strong systems, collaboration, and shared responsibility,” she said.
She stressed that improving safety standards requires closer collaboration among regulators, employers, academia, and industry players. She warned that persistent challenges such as underreporting of incidents continue to weaken effective risk management.
“If incidents are not properly recorded and analysed, it becomes difficult to measure progress or design targeted interventions that can save lives,” she said.
Mwamba added that while Zambia has made progress through regulatory reforms, enforcement and implementation remain critical gaps.
She called for stronger collaboration among regulators, employers, academia, and industry players to improve occupational health and safety standards in the country.
Mwamba said the awards were not just ceremonial, but a moment for reflection and accountability in how workplaces protect human life.
She stressed that safety must be treated as a core requirement of work, not an optional consideration.
“Safety is not an option; it is a fundamental condition of work. We must move from reacting to incidents to preventing them through strong systems, collaboration, and shared responsibility,” she said.
Mwamba noted that the future of workplace safety depends on coordinated action among government institutions, regulators, academia, and the private sector. She said such cooperation is critical in improving standards, sharing knowledge, and building a unified national prevention strategy.
She also raised concern over persistent gaps in incident reporting and documentation, which she said weaken risk analysis and policy response.
“If incidents are not properly recorded and analysed, it becomes difficult to measure progress or design targeted interventions that can save lives,” she said.
Mwamba observed that safety issues are often only taken seriously after accidents occur, and called for a cultural shift towards prevention embedded in daily operations.
She acknowledged progress in Zambia’s occupational safety framework, including regulatory reforms promoting shared responsibility between employers and employees. However, she said legislation alone is not enough without enforcement and practical implementation.
The ZASAA President said the Zambia Safety Awards were created to strengthen a culture of safety by recognising excellence, encouraging compliance, and promoting awareness on workplace risk prevention.
As industries expand, she warned that emerging opportunities also bring increased risks, making occupational safety more urgent than ever.
She urged stakeholders to ensure safety becomes a daily practice rather than a response to crises.
“Let us continue working together to ensure that safety is not only recognised at events like this, but practiced every day in every workplace,” she said.
ZOHSA President Eustance Shanzi said safety should be treated as a shared responsibility rather than a compliance exercise.
“Safety is a shared responsibility. It is about protecting lives, families, and ensuring workplaces are safe for everyone,” he said.
He warned that fragmented efforts weaken national progress and called for stronger coordination, training, and leadership accountability.
“Our success is measured not by compliance reports, but by the number of lives protected and workers who return home safely,” he said.
At industry level, Zambia Sugar Safety Director Priscilla Msiska said safety must be embedded in everyday work culture.
She highlighted the importance of daily safety briefings, known as “two-box talks,” which reinforce individual responsibility for colleague safety.
“Safety requires collaboration, commitment and collective action,” she said.
Msiska noted that operating in high-risk environments demands continuous risk management, employee involvement, and leadership that listens to safety concerns.
“How often do we listen when employees raise safety concerns? These conversations are critical to preventing injuries,” she said.
She added that strong safety practices improve productivity, reduce injuries, and strengthen trust between employees and management.
She noted that workplace injuries and operational incidents continue to occur, highlighting the need for more effective preventive measures.
Msiska called for stronger workplace safety practices, urging employees and stakeholders to prioritise human life in all operations.
She said safety is not only about compliance but about building a culture where everyone actively looks out for one another.
She noted that Zambia Sugar operates in a high-risk agricultural and manufacturing environment, making continuous risk management essential.
She also highlighted internal safety initiatives, including personal safety choice programmes that encourage workers to identify and address risks.
Msiska urged management to listen more closely to employee concerns about unsafe conditions and fitness for duty.
“How often do we listen when employees raise safety concerns? These conversations are critical to preventing injuries,” she said.
She said safe workplaces lead to higher productivity, fewer injuries, improved retention, and stronger trust between employees and management.
Stella Kaluba, Occupational Health and Safety Manager at Workmam Compassion Board, said rising workplace risks require stronger prevention systems and continuous education.
“Protecting workers’ health and lives is central to organisational performance,” she said.
She called for improved monitoring systems and stronger risk awareness to ensure all workers return home safely.
At continental level, Africa Vision Zero Network President Elizabeth Nkumbula said workplace accidents are preventable and linked to weak safety culture and enforcement gaps.
“Safety is a daily responsibility embedded at every level of leadership,” she said.
She called for stronger enforcement, leadership accountability, and investment in training and data systems, noting that the Vision Zero approach is active across seven African countries.
AfriSafe President Fami Da Silva said African countries must rethink how development is measured, arguing that safety and dignity should carry greater weight than GDP alone.
Speaking in Zambia, Da Silva said economic growth without protection of human life is incomplete.
“The progress of a nation is often measured by GDP, but a more meaningful measure is the safety and dignity given to men and women,” he said.
He stressed that safety is a fundamental human right, not a privilege, and called for stronger enforcement and collaboration across African countries.
The awards reflected a growing consensus across government, industry, and regional bodies that workplace safety must go beyond compliance and become a daily, shared responsibility anchored in prevention, accountability, and respect for human life and dignity.
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