Guyana: Labour Ministry focuses on mining inspections & occupational safety, health talks & awareness

Georgetown, Guyana: Ministry of Labour of Guyana has recently shared some glimpse of the activities conducted by the team on April 19, 2023. The posts shared by the ministry depicts that the ministry has been focusing on mining inspections and occupational safety, along with sessions for health talks and awareness.

One of the update of the ministry informed that mining inspections and occupational safety and health talks/awareness sessions continue in Region Eight, with a focus on the gold mining sector.

It further stated that the initiative is a collaboration between the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department of the Ministry of Labour and the Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

Roydon Croal, Senior Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Officer, and Sergio Phillander, Environmental Technician responsible for Region Eight, provided short talks and conducted mining inspections at St Elizabeth and White Hole Mahdia.

In addition to this, several OSH papers and flyers, including Hazards in the Workplace, Mercury Effects, and Personal Protective Equipment, as well as leaflets urging safe mining, were reviewed and distributed.

A handbook on Safety and Health in Small Scale Surface Mines aimed at Gold Miners was also delivered to the appropriate Employer’s Representative and Miners, according to the update by the ministry of labour of Guyana.

Furthermore, in another post, the labour ministry informed that several agencies in Regions Four, Seven, Eight, and Ten raised banners to raise awareness about Occupational Safety and Health in the workplace to celebrate Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Month 2023.

It also asserted that Aurora Gold Mines Inc/Zijin Mining Group, Linden Hospital Complex, Bureau Of Statistics, Georgetown, Regional Democratic Council Region 7, TechnipFCM, Guyana Industrial Minerals Inc., Linden Electricity Company Inc, and the Ministry of Labour in Region 8 and National Insurance Scheme (NIS) branches such as Brickdam, Melanie, Mahaicony, Leonora and Linden, all took part in this important exercise.

This year’s theme is “A Safe and Healthy Working Environment is a Fundamental Principle and Right at Work.”

Additionally, the Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department conducted a series of workplace inspections in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

It also mentioned that Roydon Croal inspected the Regional Democratic Council, Mahdia District Hospital, and Ferose and Sons Enterprise to establish the level of compliance and safety procedures taken to protect employees’ lives.

As per the information by the ministry of labour of Guyana, meetings were also held with the Deputy Regional Executive Officer (DREO), the Hospital Steward, the Matron, and the owner to discuss Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) issues, including the establishment of Joint Workplace Safety and Health Committees and OSH representatives within the respective workplaces.