Occupational Safety and Health (OS&H) Specialist Anthony Rocheford said one of the many challenges in implementing proper OS&H practices is the number of unskilled persons who are not empowered to challenge errant employers to protect employees.
Rocheford was addressing safety inspectors in the forestry and fisheries sectors at a recent training session, facilitated by the Ministry of Labour with support from the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Rocheford was tasked with training the inspectors with the aim of formulating a plan to develop the Safety and Health Inspectorate; to improve OS&H in workplaces; and to provide training in the areas of legislation, risk assessment, inspection techniques, accident investigation, report writing, and equipment safety.
According to a press release, Rocheford noted that OS&H has many implications for productivity, people’s health, wealth and trade. He said though the concept is relatively new in the region and Guyana is the first country in the region to have enacted comprehensive legislation to govern the area, more is still to be done to strengthen the inspectorate. A common problem he identified is that several persons charged with policing OS&H do not possess the requisite skills to challenge employers to protect employees at work.
“Occupation Health and Safety is an investment into the health of workers. If the workplace is not safe, then productivity is affected…,” he said, adding that safety is an asset that should be given the same level of consideration as other factors contributing to productivity.
In his address at the workshop, Labour Minister Dr Nanda Kishore Gopaul, said safety in the workplace is among its priorities in promoting decent work in all sectors. He said with the recent ratification of the Occupational Safety and Health Convention No 155, greater emphasis will be placed on ensuring that workplaces are safe.
The Convention provides for the adoption of a coherent national OS&H policy as well as action to be taken by governments and within enterprises to promote occupational safety and health and to improve working conditions. The Protocol calls for the establishment and the periodic review of requirements and procedures for the recording and notification of occupational accidents and diseases, and for the publication of related annual statistics.
Gopaul said Guyana is working on OS&H regulations for seven sectors, including mining, forestry, noise, and manufacturing to improve the working environment in those areas. “Guyana is moving ahead to ensure not only safety of workplaces, but maintenance of good and harmonious industrial relations practices,” he said.
The minister pointed to the recent surge in mining activities in the country and referred to a recent fatal accident that was due to some degree of negligence and breach of safety procedures. “As a consequence, greater emphasis will have to be placed on safety in the mining sector and a seminar designed for that sector will commence shortly,” he added. The onus is also on the individual to adopt health and safety practices in the homes and at vocational sites.
Other local initiatives are being undertaken by the ministry also with support from the ILO, the release said.
