Banks DIH recognised as ‘safest workplace'
- cops top OSH award

Kaieteur News
April 28, 2007

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Banks DIH Limited yesterday received the top award for its Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) procedures and programmes among the large companies in Guyana.

Second place went to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), while Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) placed third.

The National Council on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH), in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, presented various accolades to eight for their proactive approaches towards prioritising OSH procedures, which include HIV/AIDS awareness.

Among the companies awarded for their initiatives are the Barama Company Ltd, Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL), Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDA) and Demerara Power Company.

Marilyn Mars, Patricia Woolford and Bernadette Theodore-Gandhi were all presented with individual awards for persistent and dedicated service in the field of OSH, leadership skills, commitment, initiatives implemented, aptitude, collaboration with other stakeholders, and contributions to the national OSH programme.

Six students were also recognized for their performance in the school's poster competition sponsored by NACOSH.

The students had to create posters depicting safety and health precautions in the home, school or workplace with, and capturing, the theme for OSH month: ‘Safe practices, Healthy Workforce, Increased Production'

In the junior category, Natasha Isaacs, Rojeria Mc Watt, Chelsea Ally and Chelsea Edghill, all of Mae's Under 12 Primary School, received trophies and certificates for placing first thru fifth respectively.

In the senior category, Orlon Cossou of Bartica Secondary School took the top spot, while Andy Braithwaite of Houston Community High School was runner-up.

Walter Profitt of the Barama Company Ltd took honours as the Most Outstanding HIV/AIDS Workplace Focal Person, while Earl Morris of GUYSUCO placed second; third place went to Peter Fraser of GRA.

First place Most Outstanding HIV/AIDS Workplace Peer Educator went to Rukmin Singh of GUYSUCO, second was Nigel Major of Barama, and Vijay Ramjeet, also of GUYSUCO, placed third.

In his address to the gathering, Minister of Labour, Manzoor Nadir, stated that work-related dangers should be addressed as a priority by employers and employees alike.

He added that the Ministry will soon attempt to amend the relevant legislation to ensure a more effective approach towards OSH practices by employers.

“We will increase the fines for employers who violate compliance with the OHS legislation,” said Nadir.

Nadir noted that in the previous year, 5,000 workplace inspections were conducted by the Ministry of Labour, and that would be doubled this year.

He added that of the 1,200 reported work-related accidents, 900 were due to negligence and were preventable; hence compliance with the OSH Act must be adhered to.

The annual OSH Awards exercise was launched in 1996 to recognise and reward individuals for outstanding contributions made towards the furtherance of Occupational Safety and Health in Guyana. Organizations were subsequently included in the awards programme.

Initial identification for awards was based on recommendations made by the Occupational Safety and Health Division of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security.

The responsibility was later transferred to the NACOSH, given the fact that the entity comprises OSH practitioners from various sectors.

The many activities to mark this month's observance are aimed at educating companies on the policies of the health and safety standards set out under the International Labour Organisation (ILO) regulations.

Workplace hazards and exposures cause over 160 million workers to become ill annually, and the global estimate of work-related deaths is about 1.1 million per year.

Guyana is in compliance with the rules set out under the ILO regulations, and has implemented laws to deal effectively with same.

In 1997, Parliament passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which was brought into force in 1999 and facilitated the establishment of NACOSH.

The governing body of the ILO met in its Sixty-Seventh Session, on 3 June 1981 in Geneva, and decided upon the adoption of regularised proposals with regard to safety and health and the working environment.

The recommendation of the Occupational Safety and Health convention provides for the adoption of national safety and health policies in the work environment and applies to all branches of economic activity.