OCCUPATIONAL Safety and Health (OSH) workers from across the country are currently meeting in Georgetown to draft a National Outlook of Workers’ Health Policy which will ultimately lead to the formation of a Plan of Action.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); Non-Communicable Diseases and Workers’ Health; Global and Regional Action Plans on Workers’ Health; and a National Outlook on Workers’ Health were among areas high on the agenda when the Occupational Safety and Health forum opened on Monday at Cara Lodge.

In delivering opening remarks in the presence of PAHO/WHO Country Representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings said Guyana is currently in the process of aligning its work in the area of Occupational Safety and Health with the guidelines outlined by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

WHO’s global Plan of Action on workers’ health 2008–2017, encourages an inter-sectoral and inter-disciplinary approach between its member states to partner with workers and employers to formulate policies that protect and promote workers’ health.

In addition to the implementation of policy instruments, it seeks to improve performance and access to occupational health services; provide and communicate evidence for action and practice and incorporate workers’ health into other policies. PAHO also has a Plan of Action on Workers’ Health.

As the main international technical partner, Minister Cummings said PAHO/WHO has been outstanding in its support to the people of Guyana. “The support that PAHO/WHO will be offering to assist the Environmental Health Unit of the Ministry of Public Health to build capacity among its environmental health officers will surely auger well for improvement of the service delivery quality of these health personnel,” she said.

With technical support from PAHO/WHO, the Public Health Minister said she is confident that the workshop will serve to broaden the scope while sharpening the focus of environmental health officers.

“While our focus at the Ministry of Public Health is more health related, it will be instructive that you formulate tangible solutions to help our Guyanese workers decrease the incidence of job accidents, injuries, medical illnesses, and death. Let your discussions over the next few days enable the establishment of more refined policies to significantly protect our workers from avoidable workplace injuries, medical illnesses, and fatalities. Collectively, let us aim to have safer, healthier work spaces throughout Guyana,” Minister Cummings urged those present.

Dr. Adu-Krow, for his part, explained that the establishment of a National Outlook for Workers’ Health will act as a catalyst for the development of a National Action Plan on Workers’ Health.

Dr. Adu-Krow said though Occupational Safety and Health is very important, many cases are not brought before the authority with some victims opting to settle the matter with their employees.

However, he said this trend is changing. “People are beginning to exercise their rights.” To the employees of companies and businesses, the PAHO/WHO Country Representative, said special efforts should be made to ensure that workers’ health is safeguarded.

“Provide what they need and leave the final decision to them. So that if they don’t wear the protective gear and they fall ill or they die, it is there choice not yours to put on the protective gears,” he posited.

“As employees we must do the right thing, and we must demand the right thing,” Dr. Adu-Krow added.

In Guyana, the health and safety of workers are protected by the Occupational Safety and Health Act. At the end of the five day forum, it is expected that “very innovative and practical solutions” will be placed on the table for the establishment of the Plan of Action