Commissioner responsible for Labour & Social Affairs Louie Laveist, says that employees and employers must take responsibility for occupational safety and health, adding that all jobs have occupational safety and health issues, some more obvious than others.
Commissioner Laveist says that overwork, poor management and extended hours can create accidents and risks in the workplace.
He says that employers should ensure that the provisions of the labour code are honoured and that workers have a safe environment.
Workers on the other hand need to operate equipment responsibly, carefully and efficiently to ensure that the workplace is accident free.
"It is a moral and legal responsibility of employers to protect their workers. I encourage employers to make the investment needed to protect their workers on job sites and workplaces and to meet the highest occupational safety and health standards that exist.
"Occupational safety and health is a world wide concern of civil society. As we move towards country status, a review will have to take place of Netherlands Antilles laws that govern the labour code. As country St. Maarten, we would like to follow international trends and have the parliament of country St. Maarten enact comprehensive health and safety legislation," Commissioner of Labour & Social Louie Laveist told the Government Information Service (GIS).