“We can bring accidents down to zero”, Minister Scott tells Linden stakeholders 

OSH month of observances

Various stakeholders from across Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) on Friday marched in observance of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Month 2018.
The month of observances aims at creating awareness of safety and health by improving the safety and health of young workers.
Stakeholders drawn from the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), Linden Mayor and Town Council (LMTC), Linden Electricity Company Inc (LECI), among others, marched from Casaurina Drive in Mackenzie to the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground, where the event culminated.
Addressing stakeholders, Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott, reminded stakeholders of the commitment towards implementing and promoting the United Nations 2017 Strategic Goal of the Decent Work Agenda, which reflects occupational health and safety in a meaningful way. The minister also pointed to the important role youths play in implementation of occupational health and safety. He noted that there were multiple deaths last year due to carelessness, moreso in the instance of mining pit collapses, as he stressed the importance of creating the right environment for safety at such workplaces, and the need to obey laws governing workplace safety.
“It will reduce accidents…and accidents can therefore be prevented. We can bring accidents down to zero. We need to have respect for occupational health and the rules… Once we get that through, we will have no accidents; and if we have any, it will be miniscule”, he said.
The minister added that, more importantly, accidents go further than just causing injury and death, there is also suffering for the nation, as families’ lives can also be transformed. “We have to spend money on every single person that goes into the hospital”, the minister added as he pointed out that while public hospitalization is free in Guyana, it comes at the expense of taxpayers’ money. The aim, he said, is to have the stakeholders involved as leaders for occupational health and safety, and he urged employees to become part of workplace safety committees.
He also congratulated stakeholders present at the function, noting that they made a conscious effort to be there.
The minister urged employees to spread the word that Guyana is committed to the development of a greener and safer environment.
Meanwhile, the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) was awarded for fielding the largest contingent, while the Guyana Forestry Commission was awarded “Best banner”.