Senator recommends health checks for workers

As the Senate debated the Safety and Health at Work (Amendment) Bill 2022, at least one member of the Upper House has called on the relevant authorities to pay closer attention to the design of commercial buildings and provide regular health checks for workers in high-risk environments.

Senator Dr Christopher Maynard first addressed the issue of “sick buildings”.

“Just a couple of years ago, I witnessed the demolition of the old National Insurance building on Fairchild Street, a beautiful building but one which was abandoned because of the numerous health issues staff endured while working there. I believe that if the measures in this Act are not enforced, we may lose many more buildings under similar circumstances,” he warned.

“In looking more closely at this matter, is it merely a case of inadequate maintenance, or was it that the buildings were not designed to suit this climate? Often we see new buildings going up, but when you look at them closely, are they really suited for this environment in terms of the provisions made for ventilation, and can they be maintained properly?”

In pointing out the issues at the relatively new Supreme Court Complex in Whitepark Road, which forced the closure of the building for maintenance purposes three years ago, Maynard called for regular maintenance, inspection and air quality surveys, “because if this is not done, workers will continue to suffer”.

In terms of workers and their overall safety on the job, Maynard spoke to the Workmen’s Compensation Act which was introduced in England in 1923 and is still in force, noting that some of its provisions were included in Barbados’ own National Insurance Act but often not used.

“The Workmen’s Compensation Act provides compensation for people who were injured while on their jobs. For example, those who might have gone blind, lost their hearing, or ended up with respiratory tract illnesses. Our National Insurance Act has a similar feature. For example, there are people who have become deaf after having worked in sugar factories all their lives, and under the National Insurance Act they can obtain hearing devices. However, not many people know that this exists, and in terms of this current Act, if there is no compliance or enforcement, workers will not benefit from it,” Senator Maynard said.

“Workers who are exposed to a lot of noise should have their hearing tested on a regular basis. I understand that this takes place at the airport and at the Bridgetown Port, but to my knowledge, police officers and those in the special services who are also exposed to a lot of noise in their lines of duty do not get such tests.”

Dr Maynard also expressed concern about people working on high-rise buildings without the necessary safety equipment.

“But I must commend the firm presently painting the third floor of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, because they have ensured that all their workers are wearing safety harnesses and do not let anyone start working until they are properly equipped,” he said.