MoL, MoH, GGMC collaborate to promote safer mining environment

The Ministry of Labour, in collaboration with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Ministry of Health (MoH), on Sunday carried out a series of awareness sessions and inspections in Gold Mining District Three – Puruni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
The primary objective of this initiative, the labour Ministry noted, is to enhance working conditions and promote a safer mining environment, by encouraging miners and stakeholders to conduct their operations in a safe and lawful manner.
During the outreach, several areas were visited, including Rock Creek, Mara Mara, Brazilian Scheme, Tiger Creek, and Peter’s Mine.
So far, approximately 145 miners across 19 mining operations have participated in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) awareness sessions.
These sessions covered key topics such as proper benching practices and pit floor conditions; tree clearance and camp sanitation, and workers’ rights to a safe and healthy working environment, and distribution of treated mosquito nets, and malaria virus testing.
The outreach also focused on raising awareness of the privileges, training, and services offered by the Guyana Mining School and Training Centre Incorporated (GMSTCI), including courses in jewellery making, mineral prospecting, and map reading and Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation.
Brochures and posters, which covered accident prevention and identification of workplace hazards; the proper use and importance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); joint responsibility systems and emergency preparedness, and management of mercury and its harmful health effects, were also distributed to support the outreach.
Additionally, a warning notice was issued to one miner for defects related to pit face and pit floor conditions.
The awareness campaign was led by representatives from several agencies; the Ministry of Labour, OSH Officer and ISO 45001 Lead Auditor Naipaul Persaud; the MoH, Entomology Technician and Vector Control Services Officer Kemoul Kissoon; the GGMC, Occupational Safety and Health Officer Stokeley Roberts; and from the GMSTCI, Instructor Nathan Indrasingh.