Basseterre, St. Kitts (SKNIS) — Employers and employees across St. Kitts and Nevis will receive additional reminders about the importance of preventing occupational accidents and diseases next Tuesday (April 28).
That’s when the Department of Labour commemorates World Day for Safety and Health at Work. A series of activities have been organized to celebrate the international campaign promoted annually by the International Labour Organization (ILO) since 2003. The theme for the observance is “Join in Building a Culture of Prevention on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH).”
On Sunday, Senior Minister and Minister of Labour, the Honourable Vance Amory, will open the April 26 to May 01 week of events with an address on ZIZ Radio and Television. Persons from the Department of Labour will also worship at the Zion Moravion Church and share tips on OSH with the congregation.
Information sharing continues on Monday (April 27) with conversations at primary schools. Although the students are years away from a full time job, the consensus is that they can use the information to make their school and home safer. On Tuesday a panel discussion on ZIZ Television featuring representatives from the Department of Labour, St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board, St. Kitts and Nevis Trades and Labour Union and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce is scheduled.
Also on April 28, labour staff will travel to Nevis to dialogue with high schools students about the OSH theme. The remainder of the week, Wednesday (April 29) to Friday (May 01) will see safety and health inspections at various construction, manufacturing and hospitality workplaces which traditionally have higher cases of reported accidents. While there, the labour officials are expected to interact with staff and managers.
Labour Officer Jacqueline Chiverton-Pemberton explained that all interactions will incorporate the theme of the observance. She added that the department will also work to finalize a federal policy on occupational safety and health.
“We have to work closely with our stakeholders, who are the employers and the employees in organizations because [each] play a role in preventing accidents in the workplace,” she stated.
Additional information on OSH and activities for the annual observance is available from the Department of Labour on New Street, Basseterre or by calling 467-1103.