The Ministry of Labour has deployed 10 more Occupational Health and Safety Officers (OSH) across the regions of Guyana in an attempt to reduce workplace deaths especially in the mining sector.
During the opening session yesterday of the virtual consultation to develop an OSH programme, Minister Joseph Hamilton said he deeply concerned about workplace fatalities and tired of offering condolences to the relatives, co-workers and friends of the deceased.
“Workplace safety and health is a concern… since our human resources are very important to the development of this country of ours. In this regard, I have taken certain steps to ensure that all workers across this country are aware of the need to practice good workplace safety and health so that at the end of the day they can go home to their families,” Hamilton maintained.
He explained that staffing strength of the OSH unit has been expanded by 20 so that workers in every region of the country will have access to occupational safety and health services. Ten officers who benefited from a two-week intensive OSH training have already been deployed to various regions while another 10 are being recruited.
“I have also ensured that the capacity of the existing nine officers was built. They have… been the recipients of refresher training in OSH so that they are better equipped to provide the technical support and guidance which will be needed by the new recruits,” the Minister shared.
The consultation sought to begin the implementation of Guyana’s Policy on Occupa-tional Safety and Health.
According to the Ministry the main objectives of yesterday’s consultation were to reinforce capacity building in occupational safety and health, introduce and review national OSH programmes and gather inputs from key stakeholders to develop the National OSH Programme
Hamilton told those present for the virtual session that his vision is a Guyana with zero accidents.
“I am aware that this is ideal but with the collaboration of our partners and stakeholders, we can work towards it,” he noted adding that he would also like to see us having a safe climate in Guyana where there is a safety culture in every workplace where workers do not only look out for themselves but also their co-workers.
The Minister’s vision also included legislation for every sector of the economy which is current and offer workers protection they are aware of.
He specifically requested that participants give consideration to projects that will create awareness in the mining communities leading to the elimination of pit wall collapses, drowning in mining pits and vehicular accidents that cause workplace fatalities in these communities.
We are not sure about what is happening in the agriculture sector, Hamilton lamented.
“We know that chemicals are being used and while it is recommended that Personal Protective Equipment should be used, we are not sure that they are used all the time. I think that there is a need for some activity there that will inform us about what is really happening so that strategies can be developed to protect the safety and health of workers in this sector,” he said.
For the Oil and Gas Sector the Minister reminded that safety regulations are overdue and urgently needed.
Finally he asked that consideration be given to the development of specialist skills for staff in the OSH Department in areas such as Maritime safety, construction safety, mining agriculture, oil and gas and Forestry.
