MINISTER with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott has reminded proprietors and operators of businesses that it is a requirement by law that they report all industrial accidents/incidents to relevant authorities of the subject Ministry.

Minister Scott said there are a few workplace-related deaths that the Labour Department is currently looking into, many of them have not been reported by operators or owners, but by reports in the media and by other means of information.
“I would like to remind them that all accidents must be reported to us,” the minister told the Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday.
Scott had told the newspaper some weeks ago that the agency was investigating at least two deaths on the job, while they were also keeping an eye on the active jail break which has so far left one prison warder dead and several others injured.
With some Camp Street prisoners are still on the run, the minister said that while it is compulsory to launch an investigation into the death and injury of prison staffers, this will have to be done when the dust the clears and order is restored to the system.
“We have the situation on our radar but the situation is currently too fluid to engage,” Minister Scott said.

He however pointed out that so far, a labour officer has been assigned to commence the communication chain that will be necessary for investigating the Camp Street matter.
Minister Scott told the Guyana Chronicle that his ministry’s Occupational Health and Safety Department was also investigating the death of 60-year-old Gerald Henry, who was shot to the chest and later died, following a botched robbery at a supermarket in Dennis Street, Sophia, where he was performing security duties.
The investigation into Henry’s death has been completed and will be made public.
However, investigations continue into the death of another security guard, Sammy Powell, who was found several days ago with his throat slit in front of his workplace on Robb Street.
Outside of this, Minister Scott related that the ministry’s relevant department has added to its list of matters to be investigated, the recent Roraima Airways plane accident a day ago which left veteran pilot, Collin Martin, dead.
The recent Republic Bank robbery and the toppling of a Guyana Sugar Company GuySuCo lorry in Berbice which was carrying some 18 sugar workers at the time are also on the bill.
Where the plane crash is concerned, Scott said his ministry is yet to receive any information from the company relating to the accident.
The reporting of the accident should be an almost immediate act where a staff is killed or injured on the job. The minister said his staff is however on standby to receive the necessary information to commence their work.

Regarding the Water Street, Republic Bank robbery which left one of the armed robbers dead, Scott said staffers could be psychologically traumatised and it is the Ministry’s responsibility to ensure they get help.
The Ministry will also commence investigations into the Berbice matter in a bid to secure the safety of workers.
Last month, Minister Scott said the Occupational Safety and Health Unit within the Department of Labour had seen a 100 per cent decrease in workplace deaths, thus far for the year.
He owed the accomplishment to the instant investigation of fatal accidents on work sites and the enlightenment of workers on the issue of health and occupational safety.