Agriculture, Labour and Social Security Minister Derrick Kellier, says significant groundwork has been completed towards legislating the proposed Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA).

The Bill is expected to be approved in Parliament by the end of the 2015/16 fiscal year.

Passage is pivotal in the administration's move to streamline laws, protocols, and regulations governing occupational health and safety in the workplace, particularly where such provisions are non- existent.

Provisions

Addressing a ceremony at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona campus, on April 28, to mark World Day for Safety and Health at Work, Kellier advised that based on feedback and input from stakeholder consultations, the provisions have been updated, and "it (only remains) for some final comments to be made in-house," before the final preparatory work is done before the Bill is tabled in Parliament.

Kellier said the Ministry is working 'assiduously' to ensure that the Bill is taken through the remaining preparatory phases before tabling.

Enactment

Kellier said OSHA's enactment will result in 'sweeping' changes, not only in the number of workplaces which will fall under the law, "but in the practices which must be enforced and monitored."

In this regard, he advised that the Government, through the ministry, will be using the period during which final preparation of the Bill will be undertaken, to heighten public awareness and knowledge about hazards and risks at the workplace, and measures for prevention and control.

Kellier stressed that the OSHA will be a 'modern piece of legislation' that cuts across ministries, departments and agencies, and will be a 'massive' change from the existing Factories Act, which was enacted in 1943.