GHISCON committed to address climate change - Ato Van-Ess

Ato Van-Ess stcci — Chairman of the Sekondi-Takoradi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Ato Van-Ess

The Sekondi-Takoradi Chamber of Commerce and Industry STCCI is poised to address the menace of Climate Change through its Annual Ghana Industry Safety Conference ‘GHISCON’.

The 2019 International Safety Conference held on 25^th to 26^th September 2019 in Takoradi, was aimed at examining the impact of climate Change on occupational health and safety and advancing strategies for reducing its impact on the safety and health of workers. It is also to encourage all stakeholders concerned, to as a matter of urgency, start integrating the climate change impacts that are already perceptible or that can be anticipated, in their occupational risk assessment approaches.

In a welcome address by STCCI Chairman, Mr. Ato Van-Ess said building an occupational Health and Safety environment culture is a collective responsibility which requires collaboration, sharing of ideas, resources and supporting initiatives such as GHISCON.

According to him with collective efforts STCCI with stakeholders in the media will ensure orientations are being delivered to the mass populace to consider climate change in daily activities.

Mr. Ato Van-Ess hoped that 2019 GHISCON will continue to be the platform and turning point in the history of Ghana to take concrete and significant steps to take care and safeguard the lives of Ghanaians and protect shareholders investment.

The theme for the conference was “Climate Change and Occupational He and Safety”. It brought together industry players to brainstorm ideas, advise and advocate for the right policies to be adopted by labour, employers, agencies and government to promote and prevent the menace of health, safety, environment culture; and progressively achieve a safe working environment. A strong focus on regulatory reforms, legislation and compliance featured throughout the 2019 conference as climate and weather-related hazards at the workplace keeps increasing.

Participants were taken through topics of discussions including regulations and guidelines for the prevention of climate change–related occupational hazards and establishing plans for mitigating, responding, and adapting to the current and anticipated impacts of climate change on workplace safety.

Filed By: BENJAMIN BRAY-TAKORADI