By: Joseph Jones

Workers (People), looking at the definition, it is worthwhile considering whether you the workers of St.Kitts and Nevis are physically and mentally fit at work. Do you get along socially with your colleagues and your families or as occurs so often, are the hazards of work affecting your health.

Hello! Occupational health was always considered less of a problem than industrial safety. Take this very seriously. Accidents happen suddenly sometimes causing emotional shock that may have lasting effects. For example, industrial disease may take years before it produces an obvious (easy to see) effect on the health of you the worker by which time it may be too late to do anything about it.

Let me make it emphatically clear. Unsafe working conditions are far easier to spot than a dust problem, a dangerous noise level or inadequate lighting.

Hear this: Everyday, workers in St.Kitts-Nevis are faced with the hazards of dust, fumes, gases, vapours, noise vibration, high temperature and many more.

Occupational Safety and Health deals with the prevention of industrial accidents and occupational diseases.

Before I close, let me say a bit more about the attitude of employers. Unfortunately, most employers tend to treat this matter lightly; expenditure on safety and health is not a priority. Thus the provision of safety and health gear and protective clothing is often a matter for prolonged discussions between the Union and employers.

I will continue to write about their attitude; they need to change their position. Emphasis should or must be placed on the dividend which they stand to gain a healthy worker in a safe environment is an asset to the undertaking and means a more productive worker.

Lastly, the need for improving the importance of this topic cannot be overemphasized. Every opportunity must therefore be taken to bring to the attention of the workers some of the dangers to which they are exposed and which in many cases, they accept without question; they need to be educated.

*Note Well* Safety is not found in absence of danger but in the presence of God. I stop here until next week.

Thanking you