Workplace fatalities increased by 60% in 2024 – Labour Minister

…says 32 deaths recorded last year

…over 650 workplaces deemed high-risk

In 2024, Guyana witnessed a hike in workplace fatalities when compared to previous years with the Labour Ministry reporting that 32 persons would have lost their lives at their places of employment.

These concerning stats were disclosed on Friday during the Labour Ministry’s end-of-year press conference where it was stated that one of the main issues that the Ministry has been working aggressively to combat over the years is workplace fatalities.
In 2020, the Ministry recorded 32 workplace deaths followed by 27 in 2021, 21 in 2022 and 20 in 2023.
During the press briefing, subject Minister Joseph Hamilton revealed that despite the Ministry’s efforts to curb the situation, there had been an increase in workplace fatalities for 2024, with 32 cases being recorded. This figure represents an overall increase of 60 per cent when compared to data collected in 2023.
“One of the things we are concerned about is. This year, again, workplace deaths we are concerned about. Regrettably, with all that we have done in 2024. 32 persons lost their lives in workplaces. Primarily in mining and construction. That is where most of the deaths are happening.”
In a bid to reduce workplace accidents and fatalities, the Ministry created its Occupational Safety and Health Department (OSH). The Minister highlighted that this department performed exceptionally well in 2024 with over 1300 workplace inspections being executed.
“So, we have had our Occupational Safety and Health Month and Day many lectures have been delivered across the country on safety and health… We have had several collaborations with key stakeholders in both the public and private sectors. So, we have had 1,381 inspections who are completely in both high and low-risk workplaces”.
“Of these numbers, 673 were high-risk workplaces. The number also represents a 68 per cent achievement over the high-risk inspections.”
Moreover, as Guyana emerges as a key player in the global oil and gas market, the Minister revealed that through investments made by the Ministry, the OSH department now has the capacity to conduct inspections on drill ships and Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels.
“So a couple of things we have done, workplace inspections, inspection visits to FPSOs and drill ships. That is a very new thing that has happened. So if we go back in time when we found oil in 2015 we started production in 2019 under the previous Government, and nothing was done regarding this matter.’
Hamilton added that, to date, several specialists have been trained. “Today we can boast that we have nearly a dozen officers trained who can do inspections on the FPSOs and the drill ships. Not just forestage offices, but labour offices also because they do visitations together.”
In 2024 the Ministry conducted a total of nine inspections offshore, as it relates to non-fatal accidents a total of 144 cases were investigated. According to information received from the Ministry’s OSH department, the majority of these accidents occurred in the agriculture sector.
Moreover, the Minister revealed that there has been a decline in the total amount of non-fatal accidents being recorded.
“It should be noted also that there was a five per cent decline in the number of non-fatal accidents whilst, as I have indicated, the concern about the increase of deaths at workplaces.”
Meanwhile, In June of 2024 Following a surge in workplace accidents, the Labour Ministry had ramped up its inspection efforts to ensure compliance with occupational safety regulations. A two-day inspection outreach was conducted at multiple construction sites.
The inspection team scrutinised the construction sites to ensure compliance with the OSH Act, Chapter 99:06. They checked for the implementation of safety mechanisms, the provision of hygienic restroom facilities, and other essential OSH practices. Additionally, the team engaged directly with construction workers, guiding proper safety protocols, accident prevention, fall protection, and the importance of reporting workplace hazards.
Management at the inspected sites received a detailed list of recommendations aimed at improving safety standards and was given a one-month grace period to rectify any identified breaches in accordance with the OSH Act. (Kelroy Williams)