Following recent work place fatalities, the Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton has said there are plans to widen monitoring by increasing the current cadre of Occupational Health and Safety Officers across the country.
In a brief interview, Hamilton told Stabroek News that permission was given to the ministry to increase the amount of officers, who currently number 9, to 30.
He further noted that the intention is to place two officers in every region, with the exception of Region Four, across Guyana.
He explained that persons in the near future will be appointed and trained in the various regions where they reside in order to eliminate the practice of having persons work in regions where they do not live.
Hamilton added that the recommendations were made by the Regional Democratic Councils (RDC) of the various regions and disclosed that the individuals will be attached to the RDCs to supervise Occupational Safety and Health across the country.
Hamilton also said that after the passage of the new national budget, the ministry will launch a public awareness campaign.
He reminded that under the law any organisation with more than 19 employees should have a health and safety committee. He noted that the ministry has recognized that this is not the case for many public and private entities, hence the ministry’s intention to assist in helping to provide training to ensure everyone is in compliance with the law.
Up to last week at least two workplace fatalities were reported.
On February 1st, Royston Souvenir, an employee attached to Gaico Construction and General Services Inc., died after he was pinned by an excavator at the Guyana Shore Base Inc. compound, at Houston, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
On February 2nd, another work place fatality was reported involving Mark Gomes, an employee of Edward B. Beharry who at the time of the incident was investigating a hissing sound which emanated from the flour tanker. The cover of a pipe blew off, hitting him and causing him to be knocked off the tank.
The Ministry’s Occupational Health and Safety Department is said to be investigating the workplace accidents.
