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In the wake of 51-year-old Guyanese national Andell McGarrell falling to his death at an Apes Hill, St. James construction site, Chief Labour Officer Claudette Hope-Greenidge is reminding employers that they are legally responsible for providing a safe working environment for their workers.
Ms. Hope-Greenidge told CBC News that this duty of employers is clearly outlined in the Safety and Health at Work (SHAW) Act which she stressed has been in place for more than a decade.
The Chief Labour Officer also reiterated the importance of organisations which have more than twenty five employees establishing safety committees. She explained that such committees must involve members of management and workers, tasked with promoting workplace safety and identifying potential hazards.
Ms. Hope-Greenidge further stated that the Labour Department is willing to offer assistance to organisations struggling to establish effective occupational safety and health practices.
In fact, she noted that on a weekly basis organisations reach out to the Department regarding safety and health matters.
She also made it clear that the Labour Department visits workplaces to carry out inspections of the working environment.
