1 Issues Surrounding Safety and Health in the Caribbean A Trade Union Perspective December 5, 2008 Barbados Labour College, St. Michael, Barbados

2 Table of Contents Introduction Education and Training Legislations The Economy The Environment Communications HIV/AIDS EPA Recommendations Conclusions

3 Discussion Paper Presented by Rajindra Mohan Marcia Small-Burrowes Ednel Rolle Emmanuela Hermas Tifonie Powell Monique Wedderburn-Brown

4 Introduction With the assistance of unions Occupational Safety and Health has been practiced in the Caribbean under the Factories Act in the 1940’s. The need for comprehensive protection of workers has led to Acts being enacted during the decade to deal with this perplexing problem. Two countries are still in the process of enacting a Safety and Health Act

5 Introduction (Cont’d) The Issues of Safety and Health continue to increase. This presentation will cover certain aspects of safety and health under:- Education and training, Education and training,LegislationEconomy,EnvironmentCommunications,HIV/AIDSEPA

6 Definition of Safety and Health According to the International Labor Organization (ILO) Occupational Safety and Health is a cross-disciplinary area concerned with protecting the safety, health and welfare of people engaged in work or employment.

7 Safety & Health at the Workplace Every year more than 2 million people die from occupational accidents or work-related diseases. By conservative estimates, there are 270 million occupational accidents and 160 million cases of occupational disease. The safety of work varies enormously between countries, economic sectors and social groups 1. ____________________ 1 ILO OSH statistics

8 Education and Training Current Situation and Analysis The Moral Dilemma ILO Conventions

9 Situational Analysis The Caribbean workforce is becoming more differentiated. More women and adolescents are going to work. Women are exposed to a number of workplace hazards, including reproductive hazards. Women working in the medical sector, if exposed to ionizing radiation, may become infertile or suffer miscarriages. Apart from reproductive health, women are more prone to job related stress, and are more likely to suffer from ergonomic related illnesses. Additionally, women in non-traditional areas of employment often have to cope with equipment and protective gear designed for men.

10 Statistics There are million work-related accidents in Latin America and the Caribbean annually 2. In the Caribbean in particular, there has been a general increase in the number of occupational accidents and diseases reported. The most frequently reported occupational diseases in the Caribbean are pesticide and heavy metal poisoning. Skin, respiratory diseases and occupational hearing loss are also common. ________________ 2 CARICOM - OSH

11 Moral Dilemma Employees should not have to risk injury at work, nor should others associated with the same working environment. This is a major discussion issue in Trinidad and Tobago’s Occupational Safety and Health Act of 2004 amended 2006.

12 ILO Convention There are currently more than 50 conventions by the ILO that deals with OSH. This indicative of the concerns raised by Labor of the seriousness of this problem. This issue affects not just workers but also their families, which ultimately affects the economy of the country.

13 Economy Governments now realize that occupational, Safety and Health result in cost to the country through several areas. Example of these are incapacitated costs, cost of medical treatment and loss of employability of the worker. In addition companies are subjected to legal costs, fines and/ or imprisonment, damages, investigation time, and loss production. Goodwill is also lost from the community.

14 Legislation The Occupational Safety and Health Act is responsible for developing and enforcing workplace safety and health regulations. These requirements may be enforced by legislation. It has been accepted that without regulatory actions, many companies would not act upon their implied moral obligation.

15 Legislation (Cont’d) Several Caribbean countries have up-to- date Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) legislation. In some countries, the existing legislations are largely outdated, but are currently being reviewed by the relevant governments.

16 The Environment Various countries are affected due to environmental concerns. These include: Air Quality (China during the Olympics) Energy Conservation (Oil Prices this Summer) Water Conservation (Proliferation of RO Plants) Waste Management Waste Water Quality Noise Contaminated Land Sites Working Conditions

17 Communications Every country should be governed by an Act on Safety and Health, which must include how to communicate to the workers. As such, every company should have comprehensive regulations and policies regarding the Safety and Health of its workers. These regulations should be readily available to every worker.

18 HIV/AIDS This disease is directly affecting the Safety and Health of workers and by extension the economies of each state.

19 EPA This trade agreement is concerned with the trade of goods and services. This has the potential to cause increase in technology leading to the need for more complex training. This will also lead to the movement of people from areas with higher standards of Safety and Health which will affect changes in the law.

20 Recommendations Drafts of new laws should be focused on ensuring that they properly reflect the Safety and Health of workers and are consistent throughout the Caribbean. All regulations and policies should have tripartite discussions for changes in Safety and Health.

21 Recommendations (Cont’d) Regulations and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) should be available in all communication mediums for all workers. Ensure training and education of all employees on Safety and Health matters. Timely inspection of worksites, with the necessary recommendations for maintenance. The Regular display of statistics dealing with accidents and sick days.

22 Recommendations (Cont’d) Protect workers with HIV/AIDS and also co- workers by having proper Safety and Health regulations. All countries of the Caribbean should seek to ratify ILO conventions on OSH, so as to ensure full international support on safety and health breaches that can arise from the EPA. Necessary legislations when enacted should have the requisite qualified personnel to enforce same.

23 Conclusion Occupational Safety and Health should be designed and enforced to not only protect workers, but also the community and the environment.