– as Ministry continues nationwide seminars to educate workers
A SEMINAR to enlighten and educate employees about the Laws of Guyana as it relates to Occupational Health and Safety was conducted on Tuesday by officers of the Ministry of Labour with management and employees of Bounty Farm, Timehri.
Seminars are being conducted as part of Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) month activities. Chief Labour Occupational Health and Safety Officer of the Labour Ministry, Yoganand Persaud told employees that they are very important factors of production.
He said that Occupational Health and Safety is ongoing since at any time persons can be exposed to risks that can pose danger to health and safety in the work environment. OH&S, therefore, should be practiced at all times, he said.
According to a report from the Government Information Agency (GINA), Persaud noted that the OH&S Act of 1997 Section 13, mandates the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security to inspect workplaces at any time to ensure that employers are complying with the labour laws.
The Chief Labour Officer highlighted that Government is serious about OH&S, citing that a few persons have been prosecuted for breaches under the OH&S Act.
However, he noted that before action is taken, employers are sensitised about their obligations under the Act.
Persaud noted that under the Act of 1997, employers are obligated to provide a safe working environment for employees adding that employers can be prosecuted for not doing so.  In addition, employers can also take steps to ensure that workers comply with workplace OH&S rules.
Assistant Chief Labour Occupational Safety and Health Officer, Lydia Greene who provided an informative session about confined space and health hazards in the work environment , said a confined space is an enclosed or partially enclosed space that presents a certain quality.
She told workers that many persons in the world have been either killed or injured while working in confined spaces and said employees have the responsibility to take note of and be knowledgeable of their environment so that in the case of an event or any eventuality they will know what they have to do.
Greene stated that if a confined space cannot be made safe for workers by taking precautions then workers should not enter the confined space if it cannot be made safe for them to work.
Confined space, she further stated can represent a risk to employees health and safety when it is restricted and does not provide a safe environment for workers.
During the session workers were provided the chance to ask questions about their rights under OS&H laws and response to their queries. Officers also used the opportunity to educate staff and raise awareness of the pandemic HIV/AIDS in the work environment.