It has become a bedrock in most highly-developed countries and in Bermuda it is 24 years since a comprehensive list of Health and Safety at work regulations was adopted.

But despite two decades having passed since the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1982 was created the level of awareness of safe working practices and what obligations employers and employees have in regard to it is still low.

Changing that is the goal of Doris Foley. And a widely-held belief that health and safety at work only pertains to construction sites and heavy plant operations is something she is seeking to dispel.

She wants the business sector to "take serious the importance of establishing a safety and health culture."

In an office environment there are issues such as eyestrain caused by badly position computer screens and repetitive strain on arms and hands from poorly set up desktops and keyboards, at a supermarket safety issues could involve how safe shelving is such as whether it has sharp edges that might harm staff or customers or is there proper seating for check-out cashiers.

Proper training for machine operators, the fitting of effective guards on dangerous pieces of equipment and use of protective clothing are issues that arise in industrial workplace settings.

A big assistance for Senior Safety and Health Officer Ms Foley in achieving wider recognition of the health and safety requirements has come from a new law that states employers must display a copy of the Act at their workplace where it can be easily seen by employees.

With August recognised as awareness month, Ms Foley is also driving for all employers with 10 or more staff to ensure they have a safety and health committee that regularly meets and monitors relevant incidents and issues as they arise at their place of work.

That is also a requirement in law and, during checks by Ms Foley and other environmental health officers, employers who have yet to comply are being told to do so or face hefty fines.

"My job is ensuring that employers are in compliance with the legislation. The inspections are random. There is a duty on the employer but it is not being taken seriously enough. We are seeing some improvement. Employers must ensure that their workplace is safe and has safe systems of working," she said.

Explaining what should happen if a person has an accident at work, Ms Foley said the injured person should report the incident to their employer, and the employer in turn should investigate the circumstances. Serious accidents are reported to Ms Foley's department which can then carry out its own checks.

The Occupational Safety and Health Office is also informed by the 911 emergency services of serious workplace accidents.

World-wide 2.2 million people die in work-related accidents. Ms Foley said: "In Bermuda, thankfully, over the years we have had only a few fatalities and these could have been prevented.

"The number of accidents resulting in injury and cases where persons have incurred an occupational disease is very low because of a lack of reporting by employers, including the Government."

Fines relating to breaches of the Occupational Safety and Health Act range upwards to $1 million.

What Ms Foley's office wants is to see employers and employees become proactive and look at preventative measures to make sure accidents do not happen and that is why there is now a concerted drive to bring all workplaces in line with the rules regarding the display of the Occupational H&S Act and the creation of health and safety committees.

Printed copies of the Act are available from Ms Foley's office and can be sent through email. Her office also runs four-day safety and health training courses for members of the workplace H&S committees to enlighten them on health and safety matters.

"During the training we go through case studies that have led to fatalities and those being trained become the 'trouble-shooters' to decide how those workplace accidents could have been avoided," she said.

Bermuda's Occupational H&S Act is set to be expanded in the coming months with its breaking down in sections into more detailed areas that will apply in a much broader fashion, bringing Bermuda in line with many other countries.

This month the Occupational Safety and Health Office will be promoting its message with roadside banners and some planned radio advertisements. Ms Foley is eager that all employers set up their safety and health committees ? with members of staff involved ? and ensure the Act is displayed in a prominent position at their workplace.

Anyone wishing to have a copy of the Act should contact Ms. Foley's office on 278-6509.