Occupational Safety and Health A Caricom Perspective CERSSO April 29, 2004

Occupational Safety and Health History National Perspectives Antigua and Barbuda and the OECS Dominica Trinidad and Tobago Suriname Caricom Model Differences in National Perspectives Constraints

History Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and the OECS Countries and Trinidad and Tobago - British Model (emphasis on Factories) Suriname - Dutch Model (emphasis on factories and injuries) 1947-1950 - Development and Enactment of OSH legislation

National Perspectives Antigua - Enactment of Revised legislation in 1975 Dominica - In 1990 - Revised legislation Trinidad and Tobago - In 2004 - Revised legislation is in preparation for enactment Suriname - After Independence (1975) - New Regulation - (a) Insurance benefits for injuries (1976)

National Perspectives (b) The employer has an obligation to maintain an accident register Suriname contd After Revolution in 1980, in 1981, the emphasis was on safety procedures within the health framework

Caricom Model In 1996, Ministers of Labour from Caricom countries formulated the model based on the ILO Code of Practice on recording and notification of occupational accidents and diseases and the best practices from the legislations of the various caricom countries An idealistic framework

Differences in National Perspectives OECS countries and Suriname are upgrading legislation to meet Caricom model Trinidad and Tobago OSH Act:No1 of 2004 covers all industrial establishments except premises for residential purposes. However, special measures are included for pregnant women

Constraints Lack of financial resources Lack of trained personnel Absence of a consistent public education programme (except Suriname) Absence of technical equipment Absence of national and regional databases Generally, lack of opportunity for tertiary education