Labour Ministry, stakeholders to tackle workplace safety as construction sector grows

Recognising the various risks and hazards workers are exposed to within the construction sector the Labour Minsitry’s Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) department in an effort to reduce workplace fatalities and injuries recently engaged with stakeholders from the construction industry.

On Wednesday, several executives from the Labour Ministry and stakeholders within the construction sector among others on gathered at the Regency Suites hotel Georgetown for the ministry’s Safety and Health in the Construction Sector seminar.
Speaking during the opening ceremony was Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) consultant Gwen king who highlighted that working in the construction sector exposes employees to a wide range of risks. However, she explained that by implementing and enforcing adequate safety measures these risks can be minimized.
“The construction industry is certainly one of the more hazardous places but the vast majority of its associated risks can be avoided with the employment of proper safety and health measures. The accident statistics of the OSH department over the past four years is saying to us that the construction sector is in competition with the mining sector of the number one spot where workplace fatalities are concerned” she stated.
On this point the consultant revealed that within a four-year period over twenty (20) deaths have been recorded in the construction sector, similarly she noted that there have been cases where persons received non-fatal injuries however most cases go unreported.
“In 2020 they were six fatalities, in 2021 they were five, in 2022 five again, in 2023 they were seven and for 2024 we are at four with four months to go before the end of the year. These numbers address fatal accidents but we are sure they are non-fatal injuries that are occurring in the sector that are not reported. The only time we learn about these injuries would be when persons come to us seeking compensation” she stated.
Also speaking at the ceremony was Labour Minister, Joseph Hamilton who highlighted the importance of enforcing the necessary safety measures amid the country’s rapid infrastructural growth.
“The more roads we build, the more canals we will dig the more infrastructure work we will do, the more bridges we will build, if we don’t pay attention to safety, we will bury more people simple as that and that is what this conversation is about today”
Moreover, the minister also revealed that citizens seem to have a better understanding on the importance of occupational health and safety.
“We would receive anonymously photographs from citizens, at least citizens are paying attention to the matter before four years ago they would have passed without taking that photo”
Additionally, the minister encouraged the inspectors at the Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) department officers to hold both public and private organization accountable in relation to workplace safety. On this point he noted that the public sector should be a stalwart of workplace safety.
“When I became minister most companies and I’m speaking for both private sector and public sector, and they would tell you, for me the law is for everyone. I said to these officers, the same way you’re going to tell GT&T they’re breaking the law, you must go far down the road to GGMC and the Ministry of Health. Because the law is for everybody. Whether public sector or private sector and I would say this reportedly I believe the public sector must lead the way, must become the examples that people would want to follow” the minister stated.
The seminar was observed under the theme “investing in prevention pays: it saves lives and it saves money.”