Hertta-Maria Amutenja
The Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) has remained silent regarding fatalities in the line of duty following the deaths of its employees in the past two years.
Last month, Ananias Iyambo, aged 36, died while on duty in Okongo, in the Ohangwena Region.
He was allegedly attending to a power failure in the village when he was electrocuted.
The recent incident echoes a similar tragedy that occurred in April 2022, when 34-year-old Nored employee, Thomas Shikomba died in Okahao after falling from an electric pole.
Shikomba, who was also on official duty, was allegedly removing cable wires from the pole when it collapsed.
By the time of publication, Nored had not responded to questions sent a month ago.
Last week, Nored Spokesperson, Simon Lukas announced that he was on leave.
“I’m currently on leave, but let me inquire with my colleagues at the office regarding the responses,” he said.
The Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations, and Employment Creation conducted a workplace inspection, revealing that the industry is in good compliance with health and safety legislation.
However, the ministry stated that the recent workplace accidents highlighted human factors as common causes, such as failure to follow procedures or verify whether the power was off before starting repairs or maintenance.
“As part of the recommendations, the ministry emphasised the importance of on-the-job training, continuous professional development, and safety talks on the commencement of operations on a daily basis. The ministry cautioned employers to make sure that safe operation procedures are in place, accessible, and followed by employees at all times, “said executive director Lydia Indombo.
Indombo said a joint investigation by the ministry and the Electrical Control Board has been initiated to investigate the accident and determine the factors that led to the death.
“The investigation is still ongoing,” she said.
Safety and Environment Health consultant Immanuel Costa recommended protocols and best practices for high-risk industries like electricity distribution to create and maintain a safer working environment for employees, thereby reducing the likelihood of accidents and injuries.
“Conduct mandatory, regular training sessions on electrical safety, equipment handling, fall protection, and emergency response. Provide specific training based on job roles, including advanced training for high-risk tasks. Develop and enforce detailed SOPs for all tasks, especially high-risk activities. Implement LOTO procedures to ensure equipment is safely de-energised during maintenance and repairs, “said Costa.
These measures, according to Costa, promote a proactive approach to safety by effectively managing risks and preparing employees to handle potential hazards.
