fp Turks and Caicos

All employees in the Turks and Caicos Islands have the right to work in a safe environment, and labour and health officials will be conducting inspections to ensure compliance and provide advice.

“Throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands, we have seen over the years increased incidents of cancer-related illnesses such as those associated with second hand smoke, acute respiratory complications, injuries on construction sites, etc.,” said Labour Commissioner Michelle Fulford-Gardiner.

“It is imperative that workers are afforded the courtesy of a safe and healthy work environment, and sensitized to systems in place to react to accidents. You all have a right to inquire about safety measures practiced within your work environment.

“All employers are expected to have in place systems that will secure the general health of their employees and mitigate against the occurrence of health and safety related incidents in the workplace, hence reducing injuries on the job,” Fulford-Gardiner said.

Her comments came as the Labour Department along with the Ministry of Border Control and Labour joined the International Labour Organization (ILO) in recognizing World Day for Safety and Health at Work on April 28.

The 2012 event focused on the promotion of occupational safety and health in a green economy. However, even if certain jobs are considered to be “green,” the technologies used may protect the environment but may not be safe at all, the ILO points out.

On April 27, promotional material and safety equipment was given away in the Sam’s parking lot on Providenciales and at the Labour Department on Grand Turk.

A presentation on “The importance of Occupational Safety and Health in the workplace: Associated illnesses surfacing in the TCI” was made April 27 at the National Environmental Center on Provo.

Afterward a collaborative event with the TCI Red Cross was Karaoke Night at the Miniature Golf Club, where safety equipment was given away.