Environment Health and Safety Regulations on the Rise in Africa

Children carrying water near gas flares at Shell`s Obigbo oilfield, near Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
PHOTO: Peter Roderick, www.climatelaw.org


Environment Health and Safety Regulations on the Rise in Africa

BRUSSELS and WASHINGTON, April 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Enhesa presented a webinar in March on the explosion of EHS regulations throughout Africa. As a result of increasing opportunities for investment, many companies have decided to open facilities in African countries. Over 250 EHS professionals from a broad spectrum of industries attended the webinar. Participants were asked to complete an on-line questionnaire. Overwhelmingly the main concerns of attendees were understanding regulations and creating a culture that cared about EHS issues.

Enhesa unveiled its EHS Regulatory and Enforcement Matrix. In order to comprehensively understand the developments and trends of EHS requirements in Africa, consultants analyzed the number of EHS issues regulated, whether there are effective EHS enforcement measures in place, powers of enforcement authorities, and powers of internal EHS positions. It revealed that countries such as Botswana and Kenya lack regulations and enforcement, while Ghana and Morocco have regulations but little enforcement. While South Africa has the strongest regulation and enforcement capabilities amongst African countries; Algeria and Nigeria are not far behind.

Enhesa also highlighted the major trends in the environmental, health and safety and products areas.

Environmental: Experiencing the fastest rate growth, the strengthening environmental framework often results in direct requirements for a facility and fines, shut-downs, and clean-up costs for a non-compliant company.

Health and Safety: Due to a rising awareness of poor labor conditions, health and safety requirements are increasing. Non compliance can result in court cases, punitive damages, and compensation payouts. Countries in Africa will continue to take the first steps to implement requirements of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS).

Products: Product related requirements are being established, albeit at a slower pace. Non-compliance can result in fines, failure to pass customs, and product recalls.

Economic growth will continue throughout Africa providing opportunities for companies to expand and move operations into Africa. A company can expect African countries to strengthen EHS regulatory frameworks, which will differ from the typical U.S. and European approach.

About Enhesa - Enhesa is the leading provider of global environmental, health and safety regulatory compliance assurance support to business. Enhesa covers EHS regulatory and policy issues in 150 countries and jurisdictions.

More Information

Contact Enhesa for a copy of the presentation or to view the webinar recording, or read the cover story in the next issue of the Enhesa Flash: http://www.enhesa.com/en/service/flash.aspx

Contacts

Virginia Schaffer, info@enhesa.com, +1 202.552.1090

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