The Ministry of Labour (MoL) is taking steps to increase miners’ awareness of health and safety regulations in order to create a safer working environment
As part of its efforts, the Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health Department in collaboration with the Guyana Geology Mines Commission (GGMC), yesterday conducted an Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) and environmental regulations awareness session for 130 miners attached to 17 mining operations within the Puruni Mining District, Region Seven, a MoL release stated.
The purpose of the initiative was to educate them on protecting workers’ physical safety and mental well-being. The exercise was conducted by the Region’s OSH Officer, Naipaul Persaud, along with GGMC Safety Officers, Irvy London and Sekou Walters, the release explained.
Some of the regulations highlighted during the seminar were ensuring safe work grounds to reduce incidents of accidents and fatalities; and healthy work grounds and environment to reduce levels of pollution and occurrences of vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue.
According to the release, some of the topics discussed were: an OSH policy and programme to implement the policy; maintenance of an accident register; maintenance of clean campground; adequate tree clearance around operations; proper garbage/refuse/waste oil disposal; availability of adequate toilet facilities, drainage of camp surroundings, and first aid/medical kit; safe pit wall slope angle and benching based on soil type and depth of pit; emergency response plan in case of an accident; adequate entry and exit to and from the pit; working at safe distances from the pit face; storage of overburden at a safe distance away from pit faces; and conducting of safety inspections before and during mining operations by mine operators.
The Ministry of Labour is presently conducting inspections at gold mining areas and awareness sessions for miners in the Puruni mining district of Cuyuni/Mazaruni, Region Seven, the release added.
