Ministry training OSH officers for every region

-aims to reduce fatal workplace accidents

The Ministry of Labour is taking steps to improve workers’ safety by training Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) officers in every region to ensure compliance with safety standards and reduce fatal workplace accidents. 

This assurance came from Minister Hon. Joseph Hamilton, during a recent interview with the DPI. 

OSH officers will be mandated to supervise and inspect operations at work sites. 

“We have to do more educational programmes. We are now [examining a] project we want to do – a campaign we call ‘safe work’. I want to launch a Safe Work programme that is sustainable,” he said. 

The objective is to ensure there are enough officers trained to oversee workplaces in both the public and private sectors. 

“The Ministry of Labour via the OSH, we have a duty to ensure all places are properly outfitted to deal with the pandemic because it’s a safety and health issue. We will continue to develop our interventions with the Ministry of Health,” he said. 

The Minister said he has requested that Regional Democratic Councils and Town Councils recommend eligible persons to be trained for the role. Training programmes in the Labour Department, Board of Industrial Training, Co-ops Department and Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency will be available to ensure all regions benefit.  

Plans are in motion to have the training programmes ready by year end.