-Labour Minister cautions as workplace fatalities rise, highlights need for stronger OSH framework, culture of prevention

MINISTER of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith has sounded a stern warning over workplace safety, declaring that no life should be lost on the job as he highlighted the worrying rise in fatalities so far this year.

Delivering remarks at the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Symposium on Tuesday, the minister revealed that between January and April 2026, Guyana recorded 13 workplace deaths and 64 non-fatal incidents, describing the trend as “deeply troubling” and unacceptable.

While acknowledging strides made in strengthening inspections, training and legislative frameworks, Griffith emphasised that the country must now move beyond reactive compliance to a culture rooted in prevention, accountability and zero tolerance for unsafe practices.

Addressing the gathering of stakeholders, the minister underscored that despite ongoing progress in occupational safety and health, recent figures point to serious gaps that must be urgently addressed.

He noted that the numbers in fatalities and incidents highlight the need for stricter adherence to safety protocols, while calling for a decisive shift in how safety is approached across all sectors.

“While we have made significant strides, the statistics for the period of January to April 2026 are deeply troubling. For this period, there have been 13 workplace fatalities and 64 non-fatal incidents,” he said adding, “This increase is unacceptable and underscores the urgent need for stricter compliance on health and safety protocols. We must therefore confront this conundrum head-on, and it demands from us a decisive paradigm shift, one that moves us beyond reactive compliance to a culture of proactive prevention, accountability, and zero tolerance for unsafe practises.”

However, the minister noted that Guyana has already taken meaningful steps to strengthen its occupational safety and health systems.

Minister Griffith pointed to legislative frameworks and expanded enforcement activities as key pillars of progress. He also highlighted that the re-establishment of the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning has played a critical role in driving improvements, particularly through inspections and targeted interventions across all 10 administrative regions.

Speaking on the success of the bolstered framework, he noted that the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the National Occupational Health and Safety Policy of 2018 provided the legal and policy framework for safe and healthy working environments, particularly in climate-sensitive sectors.

Building on this foundation, the ministry has expanded inspections, sector-specific training, offshore inspections, and outreach activities.

“Between 2020 and 2025, the ministry conducted 6,186 occupational health and safety inspections across high-risk and low-risk sectors,” he shared before noting that during that period, more than 27,000 workers benefited from OSH inspections nationwide, which has led to measurable improvements, including a 12.78 per cent decline in work-related fatalities and a near 50 per cent reduction in non-fatal incidents. These steps have been further strengthened through the signing of Guyana’s Third Decent Work Country Programme for 2025 to 2030, in partnership with the International Labour Organization and national social partners.

NATIONAL CONVERSATION NEEDED

Turning his attention to this year’s theme, Minister Griffith stressed that the national conversation around occupational safety and health must evolve to include psychosocial risks, which he said are increasingly recognised as major contributors to workplace harm. He explained that issues such as stress, burnout and poor organisational culture are just as dangerous as physical hazards and must be addressed with equal urgency.

Minister Griffith noted, “For far too long, occupational safety and health has been viewed primarily through the lens of physical hazards. Today we recognise that psychosocial risks, stress, burnout, harassment, job insecurity, excessive workloads, and poor organisational culture are just as real and just as dangerous.” This is reflected globally as well, with 12 billion working days lost annually due to depression and anxiety at a cost of approximately United States dollars 12.1 trillion in lost productivity each year.

Minister Griffith also emphasised that achieving meaningful improvements in occupational safety and health requires strong leadership and a fundamental shift in workplace culture. He noted that compliance alone is not enough, and that organisations must adopt proactive strategies that identify and eliminate risks before they result in harm. As he explained, “Compliance alone does not protect workers. Prevention does. Prevention essentially means identifying risks before they occur, designing systems that eliminate hazards, creating environments where workers can thrive and not just survive,” he added. “OSH must not sit in the margins of organisational operations. It must be embedded in our boardrooms, executive priorities, and managerial accountability.”

Looking ahead, the minister highlighted a clear vision for Guyana’s future, one in which every worker is protected and workplaces are safe, inclusive and supportive.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening enforcement and ensuring that occupational safety and health standards are applied consistently across all sectors, adding, “Our vision is clear. A Guyana where no worker loses their life, their health, or their dignity because of their work. A Guyana where workplaces are safe, inclusive, and supportive. A Guyana where organisations thrive because their people thrive.”

Further noting the leadership in this vision, he added, “Under the leadership of His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, this government will continue to strengthen enforcement, and I say this unreservedly to all of our partners here today, we will continue to enforce, we will continue to strengthen enforcement and compliance in health and safety.”

Moreover, he noted that this year’s observance has been marked not only by dialogue, but by action across the country.

On Sunday the 26th, the ministry through the Occupational Health and Safety Department, hosted what has now become the largest occupational safety and health walk to date, with participation from over 51 agencies and more than 2,000 individuals united in a powerful display of commitment to promoting a culture of safety and health. This momentum was mirrored across several regions where similar walks received strong support from both public and private sector agencies, reinforcing that safety is a shared national responsibility.

As the ministry continues a week of activities, the minister is encouraging all Guyanese to participate in the ministry’s upcoming occupational safety and health village on Main Street, as well as a job fair.

This initiative not only advances awareness and practical engagement with occupational health and safety, but also provides real opportunities for employment, with agencies on site prepared to recruit qualified individuals.