M&CC claims to have Health and Safety policy

Jul 19, 2016 News

… Contrary to LOSAH report
On April 11, last, Chief Labour officer within the Ministry of Social Protection, Charles Ogle, reportedly instructed Labour, Occupational Safety and Health (LOSAH) officers, Roydon Croal and Latoya John, to conduct

M&CC Public Relations Officer Debra Lewis

a “workplace inspection” at the Mayor and City Council. After inspections at the various departments of City Hall, the report was handed over to Town Clerk, Royston King on July, 1.
According to the report, the objectives of the inspection were to observe and analyse the level of Labour, Occupational Safety and Health compliance by the M&CC through inspections and interactive interviews; to make recommendations and to ensure that all breaches were corrected, to encourage adoption of best practices, as well as to reduce the possible number of workplace accidents and fatalities.
In the report, Croal and John highlighted several discrepancies at various M&CC departments. Among those breaches of LOSAH regulations, it was noted that there were no Health and Safety Policies in place at the Solid Waste Department, Municipal Constabulary Training Centre (Stores) and the Municipal Abattoir.
Contrary to that aspect of the report, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the M&CC, Debra Lewis said that there is a Health and Safety Policy that regulates all departments of City Hall.
Another recommendation from the LOSAH report states, that the M&CC should “Cause a joint workplace Safety and Health Committee to be established and maintained at the workplace. In addition, there should also be the existence of a safety and health programme and procedures in place and the effectiveness thereof.
“This is in keeping with section 23(4) and (5) (d), of the (Occupational Safety & Health) OSH Act Chapter 99:10.’’
In accordance with this recommendation, Lewis said that following the submission of LOSAH’s report to Town Clerk Royston King, a Health and Safety Committee was formed. The Committee she noted subsequently conducted investigations at the Solid Waste Department, Municipal Constabulary Training Centre (Stores), Municipal Abattoir and the Concert Hall.
The Committee then compiled a report and compared it with LOSAH’s report; they then presented their findings and made recommendations to the Town Clerk.
Lewis continued that the Town Clerk then made recommendations for immediate action.