Several of Cayman’s professionals are now better prepared to prevent accidents at their places of employment, following a series of Department of Employment Relations (DER) labour law and occupational safety and health (OSH) workshops.
Representing both public and private sector entities, participants expressed excitement about their new-found knowledge and pledged their readiness to share it with colleagues.
Cayman Islands Airports Authority employee Sean Lewison felt the workshops were satisfyingly informative. “Every contractor should participate in this training,” he said, “Since completing the course I’ve been able to correct some unsafe practices even around my own home.”
Complaint’s Commissioner Nicola Williams also responded positively after three of her staff members attended. “I’m happy as Complaints Commissioner to endorse the course because it’s a part of government that’s demonstrating good practice, and that’s something both I and my office personally wish to support.”
Noting that her staff had judged the material to be thorough, educational and informative she added, “The DER managed to cram a lot of in-depth information into a short time-frame and we’d all recommend that others, especially those responsible for the health and safety of colleagues, should register for the course as well.”
At a recent completion ceremony Employment Minister, Hon. Rolston Anglin, JP, stated that DER’s effort to get as many persons as possible OSH-authorised was commendable.
“It shouldn’t take an accident or fatality for us to recognise the value of this training,” he said. “I congratulate and thank the department’s staff for the work they’ve done, as well as everyone who has completed the training. I encourage you now to recruit your colleagues.”
Eight Cayman Bracers also participated in the workshops. During their final ceremony, Deputy Premier, Hon. Juliana O’Connor Connolly, JP, added her congratulations to the participants and also noted her hope that the DER course would be a template for future co-operation in training efforts between Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands.
Since July 2010 the Department of Employment Relations has conducted two workshops on Cayman Brac and 18 on Grand Cayman. In total, they have awarded 132 individuals with completion certificates and ten-hour OSHA cards issued by the US Department of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration Outreach Training Program.
Each course runs for ten hours over two days and includes an introduction to Part 8 of the Labour Law (2007 Revision); lessons on accident investigation, job hazard recognition and analysis; personal protective equipment; electrical and fire safety; fall protection; cranes and rigging, and materials handling, storage, use and disposal.
Additional Grand Cayman workshops are scheduled for 23-24 and 30-31 May. Training is recommended for all construction workers.
For details, call Gene Hydes on 945-3114 and 244-7008, or email him at Gene [dot] Hydes [at] gov [dot] ky .
