Workplace safety is non-negotiable, the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) General Secretary Toni Moore declared on Tuesday in response to Monday’s incident at a building site where two men fell from scaffolding, one of them to his death, at Apes Hill, St James.
According to a press statement from the union, while the situation was unfortunate, serious incidents on work sites have occurred far too frequently in recent memory, which demands the implementation of key safeguards.
“This incident is not just a tragic loss of life; it’s a sobering reminder of the critical importance of occupational health and safety. The fact that we are witnessing such accidents points to a disturbing trend of safety lapses in our workforce. I still have the image in my head, one which I will never forget, as not too long ago we mourned a port worker who was crushed beneath a container. We can no longer label these as isolated incidents; they are a call to action for all of us,” Moore said.
“Safety in the workplace is non-negotiable. It is the right of every worker to perform his or her duties in a safe and secure environment. While we demand that construction companies and employers adhere to the highest occupational safety and health standards, we must also embrace our responsibility to be our brother’s keeper. If you see something, say something. It is on all of us to point out and address safety lapses, no matter where we see them.”
The union has partnered with the International Transport Federation Seafarers’ Trust to develop a new app for their officers to help monitor potential risks in the workplace across the transport sector in the early stages, and other key industries on the island.
The BWU leader said the new programme will go a long way in helping to identify issues.
“This marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing effort to enhance the safety culture within our workforce,” she said.
Moore added: “Employers of Barbados, we must do better. Workers of Barbados we must do better. People of Barbados, we all must do better. We cannot accept these tragic accidents as the norm. The cost is too high, the pain too great. It is not just about compliance; it’s about valuing human life above all.” (SB)
