Impromptu inspections conducted at Region 8 mining camps

The Labour and Manpower Planning Ministry conducted impromptu inspections at gold mining operations in the Potaro-Siparuni Region on Tuesday as part of efforts to strengthen compliance with occupational safety and health standards.
Labour and Manpower Planning Minister Keoma Griffith, accompanied by Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Officers and other Ministry officials, led the inspection exercise.

The Ministry said the exercise was aimed at promoting safer working environments, increasing awareness of occupational safety and health requirements, and engaging directly with miners and employers on workplace safety.
During the outreach, workers at several mining camps were engaged by the Ministry’s team and provided with personal protective equipment (PPE), including high-visibility vests and safety boots.
In April, Griffith had disclosed that 13 workplace fatalities and 64 non-fatal workplace incidents had been recorded between January and April 2026.
Speaking at an Occupational Safety and Health Symposium at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, the Minister had said the figures highlighted the need for stricter compliance with workplace safety protocols.
Griffith said there was a need to move away from “reactive compliance” towards a culture centred on prevention, accountability and zero tolerance for unsafe practices.
He also said the Government intended to strengthen enforcement measures, expand the reach of the OSH inspectorate and modernise occupational safety and health policies to address changing workplace risks.
According to figures disclosed by the Minister, the Ministry conducted 6186 occupational safety and health inspections between 2020 and 2025, reaching more than 27,000 workers nationwide.