Joint Select Committee Considering OSH Bill

The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Bill is now before the Joint Select Committee of Parliament.

State Minister in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Zavia Mayne, made the disclosure at the third instalment of the Red Stripe Knowledge Forum series, on Wednesday (October 23), at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston.

The forum was held under the theme ‘Occupational Safety and Health: An Economic Driver’.

The OSH Bill is expected to usher in a new paradigm that is compliant with existing International Labour Organization (ILO) standards.

Mr. Mayne pointed out that the Bill is expansive in scope and will be applicable to all branches of economic activity.

“This includes all areas or sectors of employment within which workers are employed or engaged for hire or reward, and extends to the public service,” he added.

Mr. Mayne said the main objective of the Bill is to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of or occurring in the course of work, adding that a key characteristic of the Bill is protecting workers and other persons against harm to their safety, health and welfare through the elimination or minimisation, so far as is reasonably practicable, of hazards, serious injury and risks that emanate from plant, substances and structure.

“Hazards under this new legislation include psychosocial hazards. Anything which can be considered a psychosocial hazard will be captured under this new legislation,” he noted.

Another key characteristic is providing for fair and effective workplace representation, consultation, cooperation and resolution of issues relating to occupational safety and health.

The Bill will also encourage trade unions and employer organisations to take a constructive role in promoting improvements in occupational safety and health principles; secure compliance with the Act through effective and appropriate compliance and enforcement measures; and provide a framework for continuous improvement and progressively higher standards of occupational health and safety.

Currently, the Factories Act of 1943 is the main Act that affords a measure of protection of safety and health in the workplace. The introduction of the OSH Bill is intended to fill the current gap in the legislative framework and is intended to repeal the Factories Act.

Mr. Mayne noted the Factories Act excludes vital sectors, such as the financial sector, shops and offices, agriculture and the public sector, which he said, makes it difficult to adequately safeguard safety and health of workers in these sectors.

Meanwhile, Head of Corporate Affairs, Red Stripe, Dianne Ashton-Smith, said her company remains committed to knowledge sharing as a way of improving Jamaican business practices and employee welfare.

“Businesses are built from employees. If our employees are not safe, healthy and happy, then we don’t have a business. As such, it is important for businesses to understand the role that they play in creating environments that promote sustainability, not just of their businesses, but also their employee base. We know that investing in and promoting the well-being of employees provides inestimable value to all stakeholders,” she said.

The event also featured several presentations from industry leaders on best practices and emerging trends in occupational safety and health.