Ghana’s workplaces are changing faster than ever. Machines are smarter, workdays stretch across time zones, and digital tools now connect workers to their jobs long after they leave the office. At the second Occupational Safety and Health Conference organised by the Ghana Employers Association (GEA), the Chief Inspector of Factories at the Department of Factories Inspectorate (DFI), George Gashon, delivered a message that cuts to the heart of this transformation: as technology reshapes work, safety must evolve with it.
The New Workplace: Workers Are at Home, But Still at Work
Mr Gashon painted a picture familiar to many Ghanaian families today. A relative may be sitting in the living room at midnight, not because they cannot sleep, but because their client in Europe or Asia has just started the business day. Another may operate high-speed industrial machinery that requires constant attention, where one wrong move can lead to disaster.
“Work is no longer confined to traditional factory floors,” he noted. “Workers in Ghana can now be hired by a company abroad, working in another time zone, facing pressure to meet productivity targets without the right safety systems.”
This technology-driven world brings new hazards, from mental fatigue and burnout to sophisticated machinery that, without proper safety guards, can turn dangerous.
Technology is Advancing Faster Than Safety Practices
While modern equipment boosts productivity, Mr Gashon warned that many workplaces still lack the minimum safety systems needed to match this technology.
“You may have a well-trained worker,” he said, “but if the machine has no built-in safety guard, that worker is still in danger.”
The DFI is already responding by enforcing machinery safety, inspecting boilers, pressure vessels, and lifting equipment, and approving new buildings before factories or offices open.
But challenges remain. Many companies prioritize output over staff well-being. Some under-report workplace accidents, meaning the national data often understates the true level of risk employees face.
A Legal Right to Safety But Enforcement Is Weak
Mr Gashon reminded employers that workplace safety is not optional. Ghana’s Constitution guarantees every worker the right to a safe and healthy working environment.
However, he stressed that poor regulation and weak enforcement leave workers exposed, especially in high-risk sectors like steel, construction, petroleum, and manufacturing.
Unreported injuries, he said, create “a looming emergency.” If only 10 accidents are reported while 25 more go unrecorded, the nation cannot design the right safety programmes.
Why Ghana Needs Stronger Labour Market Regulation
According to Mr Gashon, strengthening labour market regulation is essential as the workplace becomes more digital and complex. Clear and modern standards, consistent across industries must guide employers on what is acceptable and what is not.
A new committee under the Ghana Standards Authority, working with the Fire Service and the Department of Factories Inspectorate, is now developing unified occupational safety and health standards for all industries.
Balancing Productivity With Worker Well-being
The central message from his presentation was simple but powerful: productivity must not come at the expense of worker safety.
In today’s tech-driven workspace where remote work, automation, and digital operations are the norm, the risks workers face are no longer only physical. Long hours, stress, fatigue, and the pressure to stay constantly connected can be just as harmful as faulty machinery.
Conclusion: Safety Must Modernize With Technology
As Ghana pushes to become a competitive, technology-driven economy, the workplace must adapt—not only for efficiency, but for the protection of workers who keep it running.
Mr Gashon’s reminder is timely:
“Health and safety is a right. As work evolves, our protection systems must evolve too.”
His call for stronger regulations, safer machines, and better enforcement is ultimately a call to build future-ready workplaces where technology enhances productivity without endangering the people who power it.
