Ss29-04 Occupational Health in Africa in a Post-Colonial Context

Abstract Introduction The health of workers in Africa has been shaped by its colonial past and legacy of under-development. The legal frameworks, provision of occupational health services and programmes for the training of occupational health professionals varies across countries, influenced by economic development, worker and employer organisation and international standards. This paper describes the trends in different African countries in the post-colonial era. Materials and Methods Literature searches across several databases and archives were conducted to identify studies and reports of legislative frameworks and occupational health systems in African countries. Results In sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa developed internationally benchmarked systems in occupational health, influenced by the mining industry by the turn of the 20th century. A combination of mine owner determination to protect their investments and the traditions of worker rights brought into the country by the European migrant workers, resulted in laws and services by 1910. The under-development of the other African countries was due to a continued dependence on an agricultural economy, with a lagging in industrial development. As these countries developed their economies, an increased focus on occupational health emerged, particularly in the late 1980s. This was led by the emerging democracies in Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Basic legislation exists in other countries, but most lack resources for the development of health services or workplace monitoring. Conclusions The state of occupational health in African countries is based on the legacy of their colonial past – either as a result of the development of occupational health systems or because of the under-development of their economies.