GPHC staff in workplace safety course

The Georgetown Public Hospital sponsored four members of its staff in a 15-week Workplace and Health Certificate Course at the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE).

The Assistant Quality Assurance Officer, Public Safety Supervisor, Store Keeper and Ward Manager of the Obstetrics and Gynaecological Department participated in the course during the months of June and July, the hospital said in a statement.

The course, which is an accredited programme by the University of Guyana, was aimed at developing a core of individuals capable of identifying safety and health hazards in the corporation and equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills essential to formulate effective accident prevention programmes through follow-up training of staff.

Fifteen modules were studied, including Occu-pational Safety and Health Legislation, Workplace Hazards and Control, Fire Safety, Inspection, Emergency Preparedness, among other things. It was facilitated by UG lecturers.

Not only did the participants benefit, but the corporation ultimately and also the patients and/or clients who are facilitated, the hospital said.

Upon completion of the course, the staffers are expected to be able to anticipate any hazard/danger and aptly utilise safety measures to avoid accidents. The hospital added that with possession of these skills, staff will be able to set suitable safety controls and offer recommendations to management which will not only assist in avoiding accidents but will also reduce the number of injuries, property damage, illnesses and employee absent days, and as such, make available the full staff to provide to the increasingly large number of patients or clients that are treated by the hospital.