Guyana has seen a reduction in workplace accidents and fatalities over the past five years but there is still need for regulations to "give teeth" to the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act, according to the head of the employers association.

In brief remarks at the launching of a guide to 'The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1999 - What you need to know' at the Hotel Tower yesterday, Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry (CAGI) Executive Director David Yankana said that notwithstanding legislation many employers including state agencies are not observing the laws. He gave the example of a state-owned Chinese mining company, which instead of ceasing work after being warned of the dangers, continued working. This resulted in a recent explosion which killed several people.

Emphasising the need for regulations, he noted that current statistics reveal that on an average 3,000 people a day die from workplace-related accidents.

The reduction of workplace accidents in Guyana, he credited to the work of the trade unions, the Ministry of Labour, which has the role of inspection, and the employers group, CAGI, which has been working to improve OSH in the workplace.

CAGI, he said, has been conducting a number of training programmes on a weekly basis and one module is completely dedicated to OSH. Every training course emphasises OSH particularly in agriculture and mining. These two areas, he noted, need a tremendous amount of inspection because of the use of chemicals.

Generally, employers were trying to improve their OSH standards as in today?s world they are required to observe and recognise certain norms such as trade union representation, regulations governing child labour and minimum wages among other areas.

He said these standards are built into World Trade Organisation instruments. He noted, too, that an employer member has suggested that Guyana observe a day devoted to OSH and a decision was taken to approach the International Labour Organisation on the issue. In fact, the ILO took a decision on April 27 this year to dedicate the day to OSH and this was marked by a ceremony at the ILO headquarters in Geneva. Workers were asked to wear yellow and black, the universal safety colours at worksites. All ILO member countries will be required to adopt that day or some other day to emphasise OSH standards.

Labour, Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Dale Bisnauth, who delivered the main address said that it gave him great pleasure to be associated with the guide which was an initiative of the ministry and which was realised through a number of social partners including the ILO, PAHO and the GTUC.

Giving a background to the guide which was funded by the ILO, Chief Occupational Safety and Health Officer in the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Gweneth King said that soon after the OHS Act was brought into force the ministry sought the assistance of the ILO to review the existing regulations and begin the process of regulations reform and development.

In response to the request, the ILO sponsored a two-week mission to Guyana. Coming out of the mission's findings, she said it was recognised that given the relative newness of the act the need existed for the development of a guide to make the legislation more user friendly. This guide would not only enhance the present level of compliance at the workplace but would also strengthen the internal responsibilities in the workplace.

The ILO decided to fund the publication of a minimum of 2,000 and engaged the services of attorney at law in the Attorney General?s Chambers, Rosemary Cadogan. The preparation of the guide was done in collaboration with the staff of the OHS staff of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security.

"While (the guide) is based on the OHS act", the 44-page publication, King said "is not intended to be a legal directive or a substitute for the act. It is intended to help workers, workers representatives, supervisors, managers and employers to comply with the act."

The table of contents is wide-ranging and includes on-the-job safety, general safety measures, the duties for employers and workers, workplace accidents, workplace diseases, OSH policy and it provides assistance to employers in the development of workplace safety.

Among those welcoming the publication of the guide were President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress, Carvil Duncan, Pan American Health Organisation Environmental and Health Adviser, Wilton Conliffe and ILO Regional Director Willi Momm.