In accordance with the Namibian Health and Safety Regulations of 1997, established under the Labour Act 2007, employers are mandated to ensure the safety of their employees in the workplace. This entails the identification of workplace hazards and the assessment of associated risks. Employees must be adequately informed about these hazards and trained to effectively mitigate risks and avoid potential hazards while on the job.
Furthermore, employers are required to institute medical surveillance programs for all employees exposed to workplace hazards, in accordance with the level of risk. These programs encompass pre-employment, periodic, return-to-work, and exit medical examinations. It is important that medical surveillance is conducted by duly qualified, registered, and accredited Namibian Occupational Medical Practitioners.
Additionally, employers are encouraged to develop Fitness for Work Policies, which should encompass minimum fitness standards for various job roles, occupation-specific risk exposure profiles, similar exposure group matrices, wellness initiatives, employee assistance programs, and incapacity case management procedures.
For further details, please refer to Regulations 188, 220, 221, and 227.
