Occupational safety and health regulations and implementation challenges in Uganda

Abstract

The burden of occupational diseases and injuries is high in developing countries due to several challenges including poor regulatory frameworks. To explore the status of occupational safety and health (OSH) policies and related implementation challenges in Uganda, we reviewed OSH regulations and conducted key informant interviews with stakeholders. We found that the existing OSH laws were largely outdated compared to the current needs of workplaces. Challenges affecting implementation are related to: gaps in the legal framework, low public awareness about OSH, poor planning, and limited human capacity, transparency, and accountability. Measures to address these gaps including training, upgrading OSH laws and policies, and prioritization are warranted to improve the status of OSH in Uganda.

Keywords:

• Health
• occupational
• policy
• safety
• Uganda

Acknowledgments

We are sincerely grateful to the 30 key informants who shared their knowledge and experiences in OSH, and the Research Assistants who collected the data.

Conflict of interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the National Institute of Health (Grant nos. 1R24TW009489 and 1R24TW009556).