Occupational Safety and Health: guided by the Ministry of Labour

ABOUT THE MINISTRY

The mission of the Ministry of Labour is to assist the Government and its Social Partners in promoting opportunities for the provision of decent and productive work, in conditions of freedom of association, equity, security and human dignity and to provide quality social and economic benefits for Barbadians.

Safety & Health

Under the Ministry of Labour, the Labour Department, through its Occupational Safety and Health Section, has responsibility for the administration of statutory provisions and the promotion of ‘best practice’ towards achieving acceptable working conditions. The Department pursues this goal by working with employers and workers through a range of safety programmes which include:

• Routine Factory Inspections

• Accident Investigations

• Investigation of Complaints

• Consultancy Services

• Public Awareness & Training

ROUTINE FACTORY INSPECTIONS

As prescribed under the Factories Act Cap. 347, random, unannounced visits are made to workplaces which fit the definition of a factory. The inspection is done to assess working conditions and determine compliance with this legislation. 

ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS

Under the Accident and Occupational Diseases (Notification) Act, Cap. 338, all employers are required to notify the Chief Labour Officer about any accident arising from employment which result in injury to employees, causing them to be away from their normal duties for more than 3 days. Further investigation is then conducted by the Labour Department to determine the causes of the accident and to ensure that measures are implemented to prevent any recurrence of such accidents.

It is also required under Section 5 of this Act that the employer or medical practitioner notify the Chief Labour Officer of any suspected case of Occupational Disease. 

COMPLAINTS

The Labour Department Act, Cap. 23, and the Factories Act, Cap. 347, mandate the  Labour Department to investigate all complaints made to the Chief Labour Officer, whether by  an employer or employee. Confidentiality is guaranteed.

Under the Factories Act, it is an offence to penalise an employee because he/she requests a visit from the Labour Department.

CONSULTATION SERVICES

The expertise of the OSH Section is available to any employer or employee through the Labour Department’s consultation services, which can be sought on general or specific matters including:

·         Plant layout

·         The introduction of new processes

·         The introduction of new equipment or hazardous substances

·         The formulation of safety and health management systems

·         Workplace audits

PUBLIC AWARENESS & TRAINING

Fully informed employers and employees are crucial to the achievement of the Labour Department’s mission of promoting and maintaining high occupational safety and health standards. The Inspectorate is committed to heightening the awareness of all employers and workers through formal training programs. These programmes are available to the following:

·         Workplaces of all categories

·         Trade unions and employer organisations

·         Educational and training institutions

·         Safety committees

·         General public

Ratified ILO Conventions

 

The International Labour Organization sets out international labour standards and clearly defines the basic principles and rights at work in a number of conventions and related recommendations. The Ministry of Labour acts as the vehicle for ratifying these conventions on the behalf of the Government of Barbados and therefore represents a legally binding agreement to meet the standards established in the conventions.

To date, the following conventions have been ratified and form the basis for  labour legislation in Barbados and a number of the Ministry of Labour’s policies and programmes:

Ratification by Convention

Note : Withdrawn Conventions are closed for ratification.

Fundamental

1. C029 - Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)
2. P029 - Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930
3. C087 - Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87)
4. C098 - Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98)
5. C100 - Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100)
6. C105 - Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105)
7. C111 - Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111)
8. C138 - Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)
9. C182 - Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182)

Governance (Priority)

1. C081 - Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81)
2. P081 - Protocol of 1995 to the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947
3. C122 - Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122)
4. C129 - Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129)
5. C144 - Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144)

Technical

1. C001 - Hours of Work (Industry) Convention, 1919 (No. 1)
2. C002 - Unemployment Convention, 1919 (No. 2)
3. C003 - Maternity Protection Convention, 1919 (No. 3)
4. C004 - Night Work (Women) Convention, 1919 (No. 4)
5. C005 - Minimum Age (Industry) Convention, 1919 (No. 5)
6. C006 - Night Work of Young Persons (Industry) Convention, 1919 (No. 6)
7. C007 - Minimum Age (Sea) Convention, 1920 (No. 7)
8. C008 - Unemployment Indemnity (Shipwreck) Convention, 1920 (No. 8)
9. C009 - Placing of Seamen Convention, 1920 (No. 9)
10. C010 - Minimum Age (Agriculture) Convention, 1921 (No. 10)
11. C011 - Right of Association (Agriculture) Convention, 1921 (No. 11)
12. C012 - Workmen's Compensation (Agriculture) Convention, 1921 (No. 12)
13. C013 - White Lead (Painting) Convention, 1921 (No. 13)
14. C014 - Weekly Rest (Industry) Convention, 1921 (No. 14)
15. C015 - Minimum Age (Trimmers and Stokers) Convention, 1921 (No. 15)
16. C016 - Medical Examination of Young Persons (Sea) Convention, 1921 (No. 16)
17. C017 - Workmen's Compensation (Accidents) Convention, 1925 (No. 17)
18. C018 - Workmen's Compensation (Occupational Diseases) Convention, 1925 (No. 18)
19. C019 - Equality of Treatment (Accident Compensation) Convention, 1925 (No. 19)
20. C020 - Night Work (Bakeries) Convention, 1925 (No. 20)
21. C021 - Inspection of Emigrants Convention, 1926 (No. 21)
22. C022 - Seamen's Articles of Agreement Convention, 1926 (No. 22)
23. C023 - Repatriation of Seamen Convention, 1926 (No. 23)
24. C024 - Sickness Insurance (Industry) Convention, 1927 (No. 24)
25. C025 - Sickness Insurance (Agriculture) Convention, 1927 (No. 25)
26. C026 - Minimum Wage-Fixing Machinery Convention, 1928 (No. 26)
27. C027 - Marking of Weight (Packages Transported by Vessels) Convention, 1929 (No. 27)
28. C028 - Protection against Accidents (Dockers) Convention, 1929 (No. 28)
29. C030 - Hours of Work (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1930 (No. 30)
30. C031 - Hours of Work (Coal Mines) Convention, 1931 (No. 31)
31. C032 - Protection against Accidents (Dockers) Convention (Revised), 1932 (No. 32)
32. C033 - Minimum Age (Non-Industrial Employment) Convention, 1932 (No. 33)
33. C034 - Fee-Charging Employment Agencies Convention, 1933 (No. 34)
34. C035 - Old-Age Insurance (Industry, etc.) Convention, 1933 (No. 35)
35. C036 - Old-Age Insurance (Agriculture) Convention, 1933 (No. 36)
36. C037 - Invalidity Insurance (Industry, etc.) Convention, 1933 (No. 37)
37. C038 - Invalidity Insurance (Agriculture) Convention, 1933 (No. 38)
38. C039 - Survivors' Insurance (Industry, etc.) Convention, 1933 (No. 39)
39. C040 - Survivors' Insurance (Agriculture) Convention, 1933 (No. 40)
40. C041 - Night Work (Women) Convention (Revised), 1934 (No. 41)
41. C042 - Workmen's Compensation (Occupational Diseases) Convention (Revised), 1934 (No. 42)
42. C043 - Sheet-Glass Works Convention, 1934 (No. 43)
43. C044 - Unemployment Provision Convention, 1934 (No. 44)
44. C045 - Underground Work (Women) Convention, 1935 (No. 45)
45. C046 - Hours of Work (Coal Mines) Convention (Revised), 1935 (No. 46)
46. C047 - Forty-Hour Week Convention, 1935 (No. 47)
47. C048 - Maintenance of Migrants' Pension Rights Convention, 1935 (No. 48)
48. C049 - Reduction of Hours of Work (Glass-Bottle Works) Convention, 1935 (No. 49)
49. C050 - Recruiting of Indigenous Workers Convention, 1936 (No. 50)
50. C051 - Reduction of Hours of Work (Public Works) Convention, 1936 (No. 51)
51. C052 - Holidays with Pay Convention, 1936 (No. 52)
52. C053 - Officers' Competency Certificates Convention, 1936 (No. 53)
53. C054 - Holidays with Pay (Sea) Convention, 1936 (No. 54)
54. C055 - Shipowners' Liability (Sick and Injured Seamen) Convention, 1936 (No. 55)
55. C056 - Sickness Insurance (Sea) Convention, 1936 (No. 56)
56. C057 - Hours of Work and Manning (Sea) Convention, 1936 (No. 57)
57. C058 - Minimum Age (Sea) Convention (Revised), 1936 (No. 58)
58. C059 - Minimum Age (Industry) Convention (Revised), 1937 (No. 59)
59. C060 - Minimum Age (Non-Industrial Employment) Convention (Revised), 1937 (No. 60)
60. C061 - Reduction of Hours of Work (Textiles) Convention, 1937 (No. 61)
61. C062 - Safety Provisions (Building) Convention, 1937 (No. 62)
62. C063 - Convention concerning Statistics of Wages and Hours of Work, 1938 (No. 63)
63. C064 - Contracts of Employment (Indigenous Workers) Convention, 1939 (No. 64)
64. C065 - Penal Sanctions (Indigenous Workers) Convention, 1939 (No. 65)
65. C066 - Migration for Employment Convention, 1939 (No. 66)
66. C067 - Hours of Work and Rest Periods (Road Transport) Convention, 1939 (No. 67)
67. C068 - Food and Catering (Ships' Crews) Convention, 1946 (No. 68)
68. C069 - Certification of Ships' Cooks Convention, 1946 (No. 69)
69. C070 - Social Security (Seafarers) Convention, 1946 (No. 70)
70. C071 - Seafarers' Pensions Convention, 1946 (No. 71)
71. C072 - Paid Vacations (Seafarers) Convention, 1946 (No. 72)
72. C073 - Medical Examination (Seafarers) Convention, 1946 (No. 73)
73. C074 - Certification of Able Seamen Convention, 1946 (No. 74)
74. C075 - Accommodation of Crews Convention, 1946 (No. 75)
75. C076 - Wages, Hours of Work and Manning (Sea) Convention, 1946 (No. 76)
76. C077 - Medical Examination of Young Persons (Industry) Convention, 1946 (No. 77)
77. C078 - Medical Examination of Young Persons (Non-Industrial Occupations) Convention, 1946 (No. 78)
78. C079 - Night Work of Young Persons (Non-Industrial Occupations) Convention, 1946 (No. 79)
79. C080 - Final Articles Revision Convention, 1946 (No. 80)
80. C082 - Social Policy (Non-Metropolitan Territories) Convention, 1947 (No. 82)
81. C083 - Labour Standards (Non-Metropolitan Territories) Convention, 1947 (No. 83)
82. C084 - Right of Association (Non-Metropolitan Territories) Convention, 1947 (No. 84)
83. C085 - Labour Inspectorates (Non-Metropolitan Territories) Convention, 1947 (No. 85)
84. C086 - Contracts of Employment (Indigenous Workers) Convention, 1947 (No. 86)
85. C088 - Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88)
86. C089 - Night Work (Women) Convention (Revised), 1948 (No. 89)
87. P089 - Protocol of 1990 to the Night Work (Women) Convention (Revised), 1948
88. C090 - Night Work of Young Persons (Industry) Convention (Revised), 1948 (No. 90)
89. C091 - Paid Vacations (Seafarers) Convention (Revised), 1949 (No. 91)
90. C092 - Accommodation of Crews Convention (Revised), 1949 (No. 92)
91. C093 - Wages, Hours of Work and Manning (Sea) Convention (Revised), 1949 (No. 93)
92. C094 - Labour Clauses (Public Contracts) Convention, 1949 (No. 94)
93. C095 - Protection of Wages Convention, 1949 (No. 95)
94. C096 - Fee-Charging Employment Agencies Convention (Revised), 1949 (No. 96)
95. C097 - Migration for Employment Convention (Revised), 1949 (No. 97)
96. C099 - Minimum Wage Fixing Machinery (Agriculture) Convention, 1951 (No. 99)
97. C101 - Holidays with Pay (Agriculture) Convention, 1952 (No. 101)
98. C102 - Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102)
99. C103 - Maternity Protection Convention (Revised), 1952 (No. 103)
100. C104 - Abolition of Penal Sanctions (Indigenous Workers) Convention, 1955 (No. 104)
101. C106 - Weekly Rest (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1957 (No. 106)
102. C107 - Indigenous and Tribal Populations Convention, 1957 (No. 107)
103. C108 - Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 1958 (No. 108)
104. C109 - Wages, Hours of Work and Manning (Sea) Convention (Revised), 1958 (No. 109)
105. C110 - Plantations Convention, 1958 (No. 110)
106. P110 - Protocol of 1982 to the Plantations Convention, 1958
107. C112 - Minimum Age (Fishermen) Convention, 1959 (No. 112)
108. C113 - Medical Examination (Fishermen) Convention, 1959 (No. 113)
109. C114 - Fishermen's Articles of Agreement Convention, 1959 (No. 114)
110. C115 - Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115)
111. C116 - Final Articles Revision Convention, 1961 (No. 116)
112. C117 - Social Policy (Basic Aims and Standards) Convention, 1962 (No. 117)
113. C118 - Equality of Treatment (Social Security) Convention, 1962 (No. 118)
114. C119 - Guarding of Machinery Convention, 1963 (No. 119)
115. C120 - Hygiene (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1964 (No. 120)
116. C121 - Employment Injury Benefits Convention, 1964 [Schedule I amended in 1980] (No. 121)
117. C123 - Minimum Age (Underground Work) Convention, 1965 (No. 123)
118. C124 - Medical Examination of Young Persons (Underground Work) Convention, 1965 (No. 124)
119. C125 - Fishermen's Competency Certificates Convention, 1966 (No. 125)
120. C126 - Accommodation of Crews (Fishermen) Convention, 1966 (No. 126)
121. C127 - Maximum Weight Convention, 1967 (No. 127)
122. C128 - Invalidity, Old-Age and Survivors' Benefits Convention, 1967 (No. 128)
123. C130 - Medical Care and Sickness Benefits Convention, 1969 (No. 130)
124. C131 - Minimum Wage Fixing Convention, 1970 (No. 131)
125. C132 - Holidays with Pay Convention (Revised), 1970 (No. 132)
126. C133 - Accommodation of Crews (Supplementary Provisions) Convention, 1970 (No. 133)
127. C134 - Prevention of Accidents (Seafarers) Convention, 1970 (No. 134)
128. C135 - Workers' Representatives Convention, 1971 (No. 135)
129. C136 - Benzene Convention, 1971 (No. 136)
130. C137 - Dock Work Convention, 1973 (No. 137)
131. C139 - Occupational Cancer Convention, 1974 (No. 139)
132. C140 - Paid Educational Leave Convention, 1974 (No. 140)
133. C141 - Rural Workers' Organisations Convention, 1975 (No. 141)
134. C142 - Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142)
135. C143 - Migrant Workers (Supplementary Provisions) Convention, 1975 (No. 143)
136. C145 - Continuity of Employment (Seafarers) Convention, 1976 (No. 145)
137. C146 - Seafarers' Annual Leave with Pay Convention, 1976 (No. 146)
138. C147 - Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 147)
139. P147 - Protocol of 1996 to the Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1976
140. C148 - Working Environment (Air Pollution, Noise and Vibration) Convention, 1977 (No. 148)
141. C149 - Nursing Personnel Convention, 1977 (No. 149)
142. C150 - Labour Administration Convention, 1978 (No. 150)
143. C151 - Labour Relations (Public Service) Convention, 1978 (No. 151)
144. C152 - Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work) Convention, 1979 (No. 152)
145. C153 - Hours of Work and Rest Periods (Road Transport) Convention, 1979 (No. 153)
146. C154 - Collective Bargaining Convention, 1981 (No. 154)
147. C155 - Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155)
148. P155 - Protocol of 2002 to the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981
149. C156 - Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention, 1981 (No. 156)
150. C157 - Maintenance of Social Security Rights Convention, 1982 (No. 157)
151. C158 - Termination of Employment Convention, 1982 (No. 158)
152. C159 - Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159)
153. C160 - Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160)
154. C161 - Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985 (No. 161)
155. C162 - Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162)
156. C163 - Seafarers' Welfare Convention, 1987 (No. 163)
157. C164 - Health Protection and Medical Care (Seafarers) Convention, 1987 (No. 164)
158. C165 - Social Security (Seafarers) Convention (Revised), 1987 (No. 165)
159. C166 - Repatriation of Seafarers Convention (Revised), 1987 (No. 166)
160. C167 - Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988 (No. 167)
161. C168 - Employment Promotion and Protection against Unemployment Convention, 1988 (No. 168)
162. C169 - Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169)
163. C170 - Chemicals Convention, 1990 (No. 170)
164. C171 - Night Work Convention, 1990 (No. 171)
165. C172 - Working Conditions (Hotels and Restaurants) Convention, 1991 (No. 172)
166. C173 - Protection of Workers' Claims (Employer's Insolvency) Convention, 1992 (No. 173)
167. C174 - Prevention of Major Industrial Accidents Convention, 1993 (No. 174)
168. C175 - Part-Time Work Convention, 1994 (No. 175)
169. C176 - Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995 (No. 176)
170. C177 - Home Work Convention, 1996 (No. 177)
171. C178 - Labour Inspection (Seafarers) Convention, 1996 (No. 178)
172. C179 - Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers Convention, 1996 (No. 179)
173. C180 - Seafarers' Hours of Work and the Manning of Ships Convention, 1996 (No. 180)
174. C181 - Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181)
175. C183 - Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No. 183)
176. C184 - Safety and Health in Agriculture Convention, 2001 (No. 184)
177. C185 - Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003, as amended (No. 185)
178. MLC, 2006 - Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006)
179. C187 - Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187)
180. C188 - Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188)
181. C189 - Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189)
182. C190 - Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190)
183. P029 - Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930
184. P081 - Protocol of 1995 to the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947
185. P089 - Protocol of 1990 to the Night Work (Women) Convention (Revised), 1948
186. P110 - Protocol of 1982 to the Plantations Convention, 1958
187. P147 - Protocol of 1996 to the Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1976
188. P155 - Protocol of 2002 to the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981

Source: https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:12001:0::NO:::

Contact Ministry of Labour at: https://labour.gov.bb/