Workplace safety cannot remain an afterthought

Another fatal accident at a construction site has brought Guyana’s workplace safety standards into sharp focus, raising yet again serious questions about whether sufficient measures are being taken to protect workers whose livelihoods depend on some of the country’s most hazardous occupations.
The death of 36-year-old Cuban national Yordan Garcia Roland in a construction site accident on Tuesday is a stark reminder that workplace safety cannot be treated as a matter of convenience or secondary importance. Two other Cuban nationals, Troy Estriado, 33, and Yusvani Ramirez, 37, were injured in the incident and required medical treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.
The Labour and Manpower Planning Ministry has launched an investigation, with Occupational Safety and Health Officers visiting the worksite shortly after the incident and later visiting the GPHC. The investigation is expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident and whether the required occupational safety and health measures were in place and properly observed.
Such investigations are necessary, but the issue extends beyond determining what happened at one construction site. Workplace accidents, particularly those resulting in serious injuries or death, are occurring too often to be regarded as isolated incidents. Each incident should prompt scrutiny of safety practices, enforcement mechanisms, and the responsibilities of every party involved in a workplace.
Construction remains one of the sectors where workers face significant risks. Employers and contractors therefore carry a clear responsibility to ensure that worksites are properly managed, hazards are identified and addressed, workers receive appropriate safety training, and necessary protective equipment and procedures are provided and enforced.
Workers, too, have responsibilities, as safety rules must be followed, protective equipment must be used properly and dangerous conditions must be reported. However, responsibility cannot be shifted disproportionately onto workers, particularly where employers or contractors have failed to establish and maintain safe working conditions.
Accountability must be central to Guyana’s approach to occupational safety and health. Where investigations establish breaches of safety requirements, appropriate action must follow. Regulations have little value if violations are not detected, enforcement is inconsistent, or breaches carry no meaningful consequences.
The Ministry’s ongoing “Putting Safety First” campaign and its “Putting Safety First in the Construction Sector” seminar series are therefore important initiatives. Engagement with employers, contractors and workers can strengthen awareness of safe work practices, legal requirements, and accident prevention. Yet awareness alone cannot resolve the problem. Education must be accompanied by regular inspections, effective enforcement, and consequences for non-compliance.
The construction industry cannot afford a culture in which safety measures are considered only after an accident has occurred. Safety must be integrated into every stage of a project, from planning and procurement to execution and supervision. Contractors and employers must recognise that meeting occupational safety requirements is a fundamental responsibility attached to employing people and placing them in potentially dangerous environments.
The Ministry’s investigation into the September 1 accident must therefore be allowed to establish the facts without interference. If shortcomings are identified, corrective measures and accountability should follow. Where no breaches are found, the findings should nevertheless provide useful information for strengthening prevention measures across the sector.
The tragedy also underscores the need for sustained oversight as construction activity is expanding, and with increased development comes the need for stronger attention to worker protection. The call from Labour Minister Keoma Griffith for employers, contractors, and workers to prioritise workplace safety and take every necessary precaution is timely.
As the Ministry continues its investigation and efforts to strengthen occupational safety and health standards, employers and contractors must understand that safety is not optional.