Background
Unfortunately,
the occurrence of Injuries have been part of man for ages. Injuries have destroyed
lives and properties and has undermined the cause of socio economic development.
In
In most cases injuries that occur in homes are not captured by regulatory bodies or enforcement agencies. Unless these injuries escalate to levels as seen in the case of a fire incident that recorded injuries or causalities or may have destroyed properties and also impacted the environment through Pollution. In the Case of Workplace Injuries, there are a lot of data to support the occurrence and consequences of workplace injuries. Institutions like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the United States, Health and Safety Executive in the United Kingdom and the International Labour Organization are instrumental in reporting on information on Occupational Injuries. When it comes to Ghana, Occupational Health and Safety Policies are not structured and this affects the access to reliable data when it comes to information on Workplace related injuries. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency of Ghana, the Factory Offices and Shops Inspectorate Division, Road Safety Authority of Ghana, Petroleum Commission, Ghana National Fire Service , Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations may put out different accounts and data on Injuries due to lack of a Clear National Occupational Health and Safety Policy. This article focuses on identifying the risks and needs of interest to eliminate or reduce to the barest minimum workplace Injuries and to strengthen existing systems for a Safer Ghana and to Stimulate National Growth.
Epidemiology
Injuries
are a major concern for public health because of its effect on morbidity,
mortality, and disability. According to the World Health Organization (WHO,
2024), three of the top five causes of death are injury-related and these
include road traffic injuries, homicide and suicide which is identifiable with
people between the ages of 5 and 29 years. Injuries in general can be grouped
into two categories namely unintentional injuries and intentional injuries. Car
crashes are unintentional and in Ghana it leads to many injuries and even
deaths. In the past 10 years most developed countries have been able to reduce some
types of injuries because they have put in place policy and systems that promote
safety. Especially for Road accidents But in Ghana, road accidents lead to
several injuries and death. Specifically, A total of 3,674 road
traffic crashes were reported from January to March 2025. These crashes
involved 6,143 vehicles and out of this there were 4,287 injuries. Also
examples of intentional injuries are suicide or domestic violence. Even though
intentional injuries or self-harm may have psychological underpinnings, it is
still considered as Intentional.
In Ghana children under five, pregnant women and the aged normally belong to the vulnerable population when it comes to injuries and they suffer the most from injuries. In terms of gender, men also suffer more from injuries than women because Women may be less involved in high risk work activities like scaffolding and underwater welding. Until recently, the cause of gender balance has presented the perfect opportunity for government and organizations to bridge the gap through policies on diversity and inclusion. Also People with low income may face financial challenges during injuries. Apart from the above, Injuries the occurrence, severity and prevalence of injuries can also differ based on where people live. In Ghana certain areas will record more injuries than others. Locations along Accra–Kumasi road and other major highways have an increasing report of vehicles. Also, areas in which oil drilling occurs, like the Western Region, report more work-related injuries because of the inherently high risk nature of jobs. Knowing the most common locations of injuries assists health officials and policy experts with where to focus their attention, whether it means improved road conditions, improved workplace safety regulations or improving access to emergency care.
Risk Factors
There
are human, natural, occupational and socioeconomic risk factors that influence
the risk of injuries in General. Unsafe acts and behaviors such as bypassing
safety procedures, and taking shortcuts at work are common causes of injuries. Also
someone who has suffered a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder which has not been
identified by the Occupational Health and Safety Department or mental health officer makes a worker more
susceptible due to lack of concentration which increases the risk of accidents that
lead to injuries. Natural disasters like earthquakes, wildfires, and tsunamis also
brings about high injuries rates and loss of life.
During
inherently high risk operations, injuries are bound to occur. This is why in
the mining, construction, oil and gas and manufacturing industries, workplace
health, safety and environmental sustainability are paramount. Companies in
these sectors deliberately put in place systems to eliminate or reduce injuries
at work. In Ghana People with low incomes would often
deal with harsh realities when it comes to their ability to afford proper
healthcare. And in communities where resources that support good health like
clean water and decent housing, the situation worsens. It is also not their
health that suffers. When a person is injured and untreated, it can affect
their job, their family, and their ability to keep up with everyday life. It
becomes like a cycle and the makes it harder to stay healthy.
Management
Preventing workplace injuries demands more than good intentions it calls for a multi-sectoral approach. That means all hands on deck government agencies, employers, employees, and civil society working together. It is not just about reacting when accidents occur. Injury management begins with prevention, includes planning, preparedness and response and only ends after full recovery. For the high risk sectors like mining, construction and Offshore very robust systems and frameworks are critical. It is common to see most of these companies having international certifications like ISO 45001:2018 and ISO 14001: 2015 and ISO 9001:2015 which demonstrate high level commitment for health safety environment and quality management systems which help improve management systems and reduce critical failures that lead to workplace injuries.
Within
every organization the management of injuries must go beyond drafting safety
policies and procedures. There has to be a conscious effort to ensure policies
are implemented and there has to be a shared commitment to make this work.
Commitment must start from the Top of the Organization, i.e. The CEO or
Managing Director and Senior Management. Equally important is the issue of
worker participation. Naturally when workers and other interested parties are
seen fully participating in the implementation of safety policies and when they
are involved in decisions affecting their safety, there is ownership of the
Policy. ISO 45001:2018 spells out clearly how Organizations can employ participation
and consultation to improve safety culture and injury outcomes. Organizations
must also know that mental health is a key part of workplace safety. Issues
like stress and anxiety creates room for accidents and injuries. In Ghana, a
major challenge is that many injuries remain unreported or poorly documented. Having
Data systems when it comes to monitoring trends, identifying hotspots serve as
a guide for effective interventions.
With quality injury data, organizations can make best decisions leading to the success of injury programs. A country like Ghana can establish a central injury surveillance system. At the moment, bodies like the Environmental Protection Agency, the Road Safety Authority, the Ghana National Fire Service, and the Ministry of Health each gather injury data, but these information are not harmonized. When all data sources are together, the government can track injuries more, identify trends, and react promptly to changes that occur in a particular areas or industries throughout Ghana. There is also an urgent need for Ghana to have a National Occupational Health and Safety Policy. Right now, there is no single framework to guide how safety rules and standards should enforced across different sectors of the economy. Because of this, injury prevention and reporting will have disparities. A national policy means all of this will be put together, making the whole system more reliable. A clear approach would mean everyone is working toward the same safety goals, whether as a worker or an employer. It also helps define responsibility.
Prevention and Control
Preventing
and controlling injuries, especially in the workplace and at public places, is
an issue with many parts. It is not something to be solved with
a simple action . For instance
education, law, workplace design, healthcare, culture all play roles that go beyond the implementation
of safety rules or undertaking scheduled inspections. Prevention requires input
from individuals, institutions, communities, and governments. It starts with a
commitment to planning, investment in health and safety systems, continuous
education, accountability, and most importantly, a cultural shift that prioritizes
the value of human life.
When
it comes to Policies and Procedures, they must be seen to be relevant to all
stakeholders because it affects them. Awareness and public education campaigns
must be ongoing and available to all. Occupational Health and Safety officers
should be engaged because when it comes to compliance they play a vital role in
enforcing compliance. The current system in Ghana often allows for minimal
supervision and sometimes reactive inspections which are only initiated after
incidents occur. Over the years, reactive safety has proven ineffective and it
is also not sustainable. There is an urgent need to train more safety
professionals and position them across both public and private sectors so that
these professionals can serve as key agents of change.
Legislation also plays a central role in injury prevention and control. In Ghana, one of the major gaps that persists is the absence of a harmonized, national Occupational Health and Safety policy. While there are multiple regulatory bodies involved such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Road Safety Authority, and the Ghana National Fire Service , their mandates often overlap without coordination. This bits and pieces of legislation leads to data inconsistencies and duplication of efforts. Even sometimes some cases of importance can be neglected. A national policy means a harmony of standards that provide a legal framework within which employers and employees can operate. It will also compel industries to develop health and safety plans that align with national priorities, allowing the government to set benchmarks, monitor compliance, and evaluate outcomes.
At
the community level, prevention and control of injuries must address
socio-economic determinants. For example, in lower-income areas where people
are more likely to use open flames for cooking or may not have access personal
protective clothing, injury risks are severe. Local authorities can mitigate
these risks through housing regulations and awareness campaigns. The informal
sector, which employs a large portion of Ghana’s population, must not be excluded
from safety interventions because they are also very vulnerable. Like the
recent fire outbreaks in Kumasi PZ and Kantamanto in Accra gives a clear
indication of how so much losses would occur when there are market fires.
Vulnerable
populations also include children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and
low-income households who face higher risks of injury and often lack access to
necessary resources for prevention and treatment. Safety interventions should
be designed considering these marginal groups in mind. School programs can
educate children on basic safety principles, while workplace policies can support older workers
or individuals with disabilities.
Conclusion
In
conclusion, injuries must be a concern for all because of its impact on every
aspect of life. Not just at home but
also at work and throughout the community. Injuries bring pain, financial loss,
property damage, and in the worst cases, loss of life. While some are the
result of natural causes, many injuries are linked to unsafe behaviors and weak
health and safety systems. In Ghana, the
absence of a national safety policy makes it difficult to gather reliable data
and respond address injury challenges which are of national importance. This
means a strong collaboration between government agencies, employers, workers,
and communities. Stronger laws, clearer safety rules, and a highly skilled
network of health and safety officers.
Accurate injuries data should be shared and used to drive change at all levels. A safer Ghana is the foundation of development. With commitment and teamwork, there is power to reduce injuries and protect lives across Ghana.
References
International Labour Organization. (2025). Achieving
comprehensive employment injury protection. Geneva: ILO (International
Labour Organization).
Kajita, E. C. (2025). Morbidity
and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Atlanta: CDC.
National Road Safety Authority.
(2025, April 20). Statistics. Retrieved from 2025 January – March
Crash Report Summary: https://www.nrsa.gov.gh/
World Health Organization. (2024,
April 20). Injuries and violence. Retrieved from
https://www.who.int/teams/social-determinants-of-health/injuries-and-violence
By:
Joshua Nii Tero Cofie, GradIOSH, MPH, BA (Psych), NVQ L6 (OHS), NEBOSH IGC, NEBOSH HSE, OSHA Prof, OSHA Oil & Gas, Dip WSH - Presbyterian University ,Ghana