WITH several fires having taken place at several prominent buildings this year, the Ministry of Labour will be placing more emphasis on fire prevention measures at work places, and will be offering fire prevention training in its Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) programmes.
Subject minister, Joseph Hamilton, explained that the ministry is also working to put together a technical committee involving representatives from a number of key organizations to collaborate on tackling fire prevention at work places.
These agencies include the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC), Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), Guyana Power and Light (CHPA), Insurance Association of Guyana, and the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Public Works (MoPW).
“We need a co-ordinated response to treat with the whole issue of fire prevention of fire. So, I have set up a joint technical committee and tasked them to put up a strategic plan for the government to review and look at. So that we can do joint inspections together, and have co-operation and collaboration,” Minister Hamilton explained during an interview with this newspaper.
For this year, a number of major fires have occurred at several buildings, particularly in the city, and many cases highlighted a lack of proper fire prevention measures and protocols at the properties.
In April, Sharon’s Mall, a shopping complex in central Georgetown, was completely destroyed by fire, leaving millions of dollars in damage and several persons out of business and out of work. In June, the North Georgetown Multilateral Secondary was also destroyed by fire, while in September the Mabaruma Secondary School was destroyed in a similar fate.
Meanwhile in October, a massive fire destroyed the Brickdam Police Station, while in November the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) was also destroyed.
Minister Hamilton emphasised that fire prevention plays a significant role in the safety welfare of employees, hence it is incumbent on the MoL to ensure that proper measures are being implemented at work places across the country.
“As we stand right now in Guyana we are not paying enough attention to the matter. I want to equip our OSH Officers with the necessary skills to review those things. I think the OSH department based on their responsibility is to advise and supervise,” Hamilton explained.
He noted that proper monitoring and enforcement of measures such as building codes will become even more important as the economy develops and more extensive, high-rise properties are being erected.
