IF workers do not know what a dangerous substance is or what harm it can do, they will not see the need to take precautions. Information should be provided by management concerning plans and changes to the work place. The boat Sanmogan was there to make profits and not necessarily being a safe work place.
Most boat owner’s machines are designed by people who do not have to work using them. Work processes are devised with speed and ‘efficiency’ often more important than reducing the level of risk involved. The cleaning and maintenance of fuel boats should be carried out regularly. Employers are reluctant to put adequate resources into health and safety;’ solutions’ may be the cheapest not the best; when employers budgets are being cut, health and safety can become just another area where ‘savings’ can be made.
As appropriate for different branches of economic activity and different types of work and taking into account the principle of giving priority to eliminating hazards at their source, measures should be taken by the Ministry of Labour to undertake or promote studies and research to identify hazards like this fuel boat and find means of overcoming them. I must again refer to the statistics quoted by the Ministry of Labour. Questions are being raised about the accuracy, since it is believed that many employers fail to report accidents and the paucity of the field staff of the Ministry makes it extremely difficult for checks to be made.
I must assume that in Guyana provision exists for the investigation and reporting on all accidents and deaths at work places. Consequently, it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Labour to investigate and report on the death associated with Sanmogan. Any such investigation must be thoroughly conducted to determine both the cause and nature of the death and the family must be compensated. Further, the Ministry must be prepared to advance remedial measures to be implemented, so as to avoid recurrences.