O-201 Deficient Occupational Health Services in Sri Lanka: Capacity Building to Close the Gap

Abstract Introduction Despite no reform of workplace health & safety legislation since the colonial-era 1942, Sri Lanka has gradually progressed on workplace safety due to adherence of international standards by large-scale local and multinational workplaces. Safety practises are however widely deficient in small and medium-scale enterprises, as well as in the informal sector. Practise of occupational health and hygiene is elementary, and the concepts are not well understood by many organisations, including some multinational organisations, who employ Occupational (and environmental) safety and health officers. Methods To recognise the challenges faced in practising occupational health and hygiene, formal interviews and group discussions were held in Sri Lanka with senior management, human resources personnel, EHS personnel, the medical fraternity, and the local ILO office. Results Outdated & ineffective regulations as well as the lack of awareness of occupational health among key stakeholders, including the government authority, EHS professionals, organisational management, healthcare professionals, and employees were prominent barriers. A program of actions including international collaboration was proposed by stakeholders to improve occupational health and hygiene. Discussion and Conclusion A collaborative effort between the Sri Lankan government and workplaces, with support from international agencies and international professional bodies is needed to improve occupational health within the country. As an initial step, occupational medicine expertise was harnessed to raise awareness of OH among professionals, and capabilities of the labour inspectorate on basic occupational hygiene & ergonomics is being built. These international collaborations can close the gap in a failing healthcare system to improve worker health in Sri Lanka during an economically challenged period.