The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour and more specifically the Departments of Labour and Public Health are reinforcing the stance of the International Labour Organization in supporting the need for safe work for all. Fifty eight percent (58%) of the world’s population spend one-third of their adult life at work, contributing actively to the development and well-being of themselves, their families and of society. The average adult spends approximately 40 percent of their total day at work. Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) involves the health and safety of everyone involved, not only the workers and the employers of a workplace but also the patrons.
Every employer and worker therefore has a responsibility as it regards OSH, namely:
• keeping the workplace safe; preventing danger
• taking reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of every person in the workplace; and
• ensuring that all employees with special needs be given directions, notices, information and instructions on training that is required, by any method of communication that readily permits the employees to receive it.
The departments of Labour and Public Health together with VROMI aim to ultimately ensure that all businesses abide by existing legislation as well as international standards and guidelines. In the meanwhile existing legislation will be updated to include the international standards and guidelines as recommended by the ILO and its conventions.
"The importance of safety on the job can’t be underestimated and all accidents should be reported to the Inspectorate and SZV," said Minister Cornelius De Weever.
The Ministry of VSA with the assistance of the Ministry of VROMI will therefore be executing an awareness campaign targeted towards educating the public on a safe and healthy workplace, thereby familiarizing and preparing the businesses and the public in general for future OSH adherence. This campaign effort is being supported by the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA), Windward Islands Civil Servants Union / Private Sector Union (WICSU/PSU), Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) and the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) and will utilize two articles of the current safety ordinances which will be specifically promoted and enforced within the country, thereby introducing increased awareness and inspections on the matter. The decrees including selected articles that will be focused on are: the presence of first aid kits in ALL businesses (Veiligheidsbesluit I article 50) as well as hard hats and safety shoes being worn on construction sites (Veiligheidsbesluit II article 39).
"I would like to congratulate all stakeholders for participating and working together to create a safer workplace," said Minister De Weever.
Government, one of the largest local employers, will lead by example, and as such will be ensuring compliance by ensuring a safe working environment for all its employees. After the initial education and awareness phase, the Inspectors of both the Ministry of VROMI and of the Ministry of VSA will then conduct inspections to ensure compliance throughout the various local businesses. The education before enforcement approach should thereby produce better results by increasing safety adherence, all the while preparing employers and workers for the upcoming enhanced enforcement.
If the public has any further questions pertaining to OSH and the campaign, feel free to contact the Department of Labour at 54-23704 / 23702, the Department of Public Health at 54-22078, the Inspectorate of VSA at 54-23579 / 22059 / 2209 or the Inspectorate Department of VROMI at 54-24289. In addition, all current local legislation is available on the website http://www.sintmaartengov.org/Laws/Pages/SearchEngine.aspx All international standards and recommendations can be found on http://www.ilo.org/safework/lang–en/index.htm