About the OSH Department
Ensuring safety, health, and dignity at every Ugandan workplace since 2006.
Who We Are
The Occupational Safety and Health Department (OSHD) is in the Directorate of Labour, Employment and Occupational Safety and Health within the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD).
The Department administers and enforces the Occupational Safety and Health Act, No. 9, 2006 and its Subsidiary Legislation. It also houses the National Authority for the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in liaison with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Technical Secretariat.
OSHD works closely with the Federation of Uganda Employers, National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU), Central Organisation of Free Trade Unions (COFTU), National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), International Labour Organisation (ILO), and OPCW.
Objectives
- Minimize occupational accidents, diseases and injuries.
- Promote good health of the worker at the workplace.
- Promote good working conditions.
- Promote construction of safe and healthy workplaces.
- Promote awareness of OSH among Workers, Employers and the General Public through training and awareness campaigns.
🎯 Mission
Ensure the existence of Safety and Health at all Workplaces and Work Environment.
⚖️ Mandate
Evaluating and controlling the physical, chemical, physiological, social, and technical factors that affect a person at work and the working environment.
🏗️ Safety Division
Specialised Sections dealing with Construction, Electrical, Mechanical, and Gas Installations Safety; and a General Safety Section.
🩺 Health Division
The Health Section carries out occupational health surveillance, analysis and research. The Hygiene Section evaluates and analyses hazards at workplaces.
🌍 International Role
National Authority for the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) implementation in liaison with OPCW. Partners with ILO on OSH standards and programmes.
Services Offered
Core functions of the Occupational Safety and Health Department.
Policy Setting & Enforcement
Setting and enforcing national OSH Policies, Legislation, Guidelines and Standards across all sectors.
Workplace Inspections
Inspections to ensure compliance with the OSH Act, covering industrial, commercial, construction and service workplaces.
Plan Approval
Approval of workplace architectural and building plans prior to submission to the respective local government.
Plant Certification
Statutory examinations and certification of boilers, lifting gear, pressure vessels, power presses, and electrical systems.
OSH Audits
Identification of hazardous equipment, environment or work practices with recommendations for remedial measures.
Accident Investigation
Investigation of occupational accidents, dangerous occurrences and diseases to prevent recurrence in collaboration with Uganda Police and Forensics.
Training & Sensitisation
OSH training for employers, employees and the general public through workshops, campaigns and awareness programmes.
OSH Research
Conducting occupational safety and health research and dissemination of findings to guide policy and practice.
Safety Committees
Monitoring activities of workplace safety and health committees under Section 16 of the OSH Act, 2006.
Inspectorate Expertise
OSHD employs multi-disciplinary inspectors to meet the diverse needs of Ugandan workplaces.
Engineers
Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, and Petroleum Engineers covering structural, installations, and plant examinations.
Scientists
Industrial and General Chemists, Hygienists (Biochemists, Physicists), and Laboratory Technicians.
Health Professionals
Occupational Physicians, Occupational Nurses, and Public & Environmental Health Scientists.
Legal Team
Lawyers and Legal Assistants for legal advice and prosecution of OSH violations.