Your Daily Safety Tip: The Legal History of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 2004 Occupational Safety and Health in Trinidad and Tobago has been governed since 1948 via the Factories Ordinance 1948 as amended in 1952. As early as 1973, Trinidad and Tobago examined a number of drafts to amend and review the health and safety law. In 2004, the Occupational Safety and Health Act was assented to, primarily because the existing legislation proved to be narrow in scope, outdated and inappropriate to deal with the expanding industrial sector, and most occupations and workplaces fell far outside the ambit of the legal framework of the Factories Ordinance of 1948. The Occupational Safety and Health Act was proclaimed In February 2006. This Occupational Safety and Health Act 3, 2004 as amended in 2006 provides for the revision and extension the law regarding the safety, health and welfare of persons at work in order to keep pace with the country’s rapid industrialization. it covers most workers with the exception of workers in private homes (domestic workers) and all aspects of work undertaken in an industrial establishment (defined as a factory, shop, office, place of work or other premises excluding residential premises) that may have significant impacts on the health and safety of the employees. The objective of the amendment was to strengthen the system of law which promotes voluntary compliance by facilitating stronger self-governance by the employer and the workers and a more regulatory role by the government. The amendment benefits both employers and employees. It ensures that the promotion of high safety and health standards does not hinder business performance, productivity and efficiency in addition to addressing employee rights and issues such as sufficient protection and avenues for redress in accordance with the law and good industrial relations practices. The Act provides for the establishment of two entities, the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (referred to as the Agency) and the Occupational Safety and Health Authority (referred to as the Authority).
Posted on: Mon, 04 Nov 2013 11:40:23 +0000
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