Newly-reinstated president of the Builders and Contractors Association of Dominica (BCAD), Stewart Paris, is making a case for Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) to be on the priority list of the powers that be in 2015.
Paris was elected for the third consecutive year at BCAD’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) which was held in collaboration with the Dominica Coalition of Service Industries (DCSI) at the Fort Young Hotel on Tuesday night.
“We would like to see the important subject of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) on the front burner at the highest level of our nation’s plan and agenda in 2015,” Paris said while addressing the meeting.
According to him, the personal protection and safety of workers in the workplace in Dominica cannot continue to be an option left to employers and employees to exercise only if they so choose.
“We believe that the time has come when the personal protection of employees in the work place, especially in the construction industry, must not be optional, but it must be mandatory,” he stressed.
The BCAD president is also of the belief that the most important capital in the industry is the human capital and “we believe our first duty and obligation is to develop and protect the human element operating within the industry,” he stated.
It is for this reason that education, training and certification of construction workers, is so high on the agenda of the BCAD, Paris pointed out.
“One accident in the work place is one accident too many,” he reiterated and reminded that with due care and attention, all accidents on the job can be prevented.
Meanwhile District Environmental Health Officer (EHO), Isabella Charles-John, one of the three panelists who presented at the AGM, said that the “outdated” and “inadequate” existing 1983 and 1951 pieces of legislation are the culprits hindering the development and implementation of policies with respect to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS).
She pointed out that there are notable absences such as the lack of a surveillance system for the investigation of injuries and accidents within the work place, the non-existence of an institution that focuses mainly on (OHS) and the absence of OHS management systems within the work place. She said there is need to address these inadequacies in revised legislation.
“Therefore I believe that there is a need to develop a national Occupational Health and Safety program which will focus on areas but will not be limited to reviewing and strengthening of our legislative framework, raising awareness of health and safety, developing safety cultures within our workplaces as well as collaboration and creating and creating an OHS Communication System with stakeholders,” Charles-John said.
Anthony Leblanc was also re-elected for a third consecutive term as 1st vice president of BCAD. Melchisedeck Toussaint is the new 2nd vice president and committee members are Felix H. Thomas, Steve Astaphan and Patterson Charles. Immediate past president is Kelvin Henderson.
I 100 percent agree. Legislations need to be changed to accommodate a certain standard of OHS. It is an area that is truly lacking here. I had to do a project on Health and Safety and I was disheartened to learn that we have quite a ways to go in ensuring that the lives of the employees matter. Employers don’t see this as added stress but a way in which you can enhance employee efficiency. Let’s start making changes.
As I was saying this unit/division should also have a system in place where by those fined can have a review of the fines if they so choose and a panel to address their concerns. Fellow citizens now is the time to act to protect our people. By protecting our workers, we are protecting our families and our communities and by extension our country one worker/ employee at a time.
When u mentioned of those being fined what do u mean. I’m trying to put some aspect into it. I just don’t understand what are u talking about
It’s time we revise our laws and safety procedures in the work places ( all industries/work places). There are many trained Dominicans out there who can and are willing to lend a hand to bring our occupational health and safety laws up to date. However will our elected leaders be willing to enact the proper laws to make this a reality? Will they be pressured by business leaders who want to continue to endanger their employees lives and limbs? I know as a people we are fearful of change, but how many men and women have to die or be disabled in job related accidents before we come to our senses? That must be a priority for the division of labour once the laws are updated and the qualified/ certified men and women are employed. This unit/ division must have the law on its side and be given the powers to stop a project if safety procedures are not being implemented after warnings are issued. The unit MUST have the power to issue fines to companies that fail to adhere to the law
They should call on parliament to change those outdated legislation. I wonder if they will study those important things