Montano: Get ready for OSHA

This was the message to employers yesterday by Minister of Labour, Danny Montano, when he addressed the four-day joint Union-Management Negotiation Skills workshop at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Montano also said that a newspaper advertisement will be published in the next few days advising that all concerned should get "OSHA-ready."

Montano also said that the ministry will establish an OSHA hotline inviting workers to report potentially dangerous situations at the workplace.

"Government is serious about Occupational Safety and Health, and we are going to get there soon," Montano emphasised.

The OSHA Act, which seeks to respect the safety, health and welfare of persons at work, was passed by both houses of Parliament almost two years ago, but is yet to be proclaimed.

The delay in proclaiming it has been a source of concern to trade unionists, given the frequency of accidents on the job within recent times.

Montano made it clear that the Government was not prepared to compromise on safety standards. "And when you are getting ready, we will get it right to make sure that workers are not taken advantage of. We must arrive at a balancing of interest and this is what I intend on doing," said Montano.

Noting that there is a Workers’ Compensation Act in existence, Montano hinted that there may be need to revise this Act and incorporate it into OSHA.