Occupational Safety and Health: a legal framework

• Safety and Health at Work Act, 2005 (SHaW Act) 

https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/natlex4.detail?p_lang=en&p_isn=92044

• Changes To Safety & Health At Work Act, Cap. 356

Eight Regulations were recently published in the Official Gazette VOL. CLVII No. 76, on July 8, 2022. These Regulations are:

1. Safety and Health at Work (Noise) Regulations, 2022;
2. Safety and Health at Work (Workstation) Regulations, 2022;
3. Safety and Health at Work (Personal Protective Equipment) Regulations, 2022;
4. Safety and Health at Work (General Duties) Regulations, 2022;
5. Safety and Health at Work (Drinking Water) Regulations, 2022;
6. Safety and Health at Work (Sanitary Conveniences) Regulations, 2022;
7. Safety and Health at Work (Washing Facilities) Regulations, 2022;
8. Safety and Health at Work (Fuel Stations) (Medical Supervision) Regulations, 2022.

Meanwhile, the amendments to the SHAW Act were published in the Official Gazette VOL. CLVII No. 80, on July 21, 2022. One amendment of note is the inclusion of the employer in the list of persons who can be penalised for contravening the Act.

Also, the requirement for the Fire Certificate from the Chief Fire Officer to be conspicuously displayed in the workplace has been added. The amendments also include the list of documents to be kept in the general register.

• Amendments To Safety And Health At Work (Workstation) Regulations

The Safety and Health at Work (Workstation) (Amendment) Regulations, 2023 were recently published in the Official Gazette VOL. CLVIII No. 88, on August 28, 2023.

The Safety and Health at Work (Workstation) (Amendment) Regulations, 2023 now also allows optometrists to conduct the assessments of eye health that are required under these Regulations.

• SHaW Summary Booklet

https://labour.gov.bb/wp-content/pdf/Library/safetyandhealthbrochures/SHaW-Summary-booklet.pdf

• Accidents and Occupational Diseases (Notification) Act

https://labour.gov.bb/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Accident-and-Occupational-Diseases-Notification-Act.pdf

• Education Act

 https://www.bstu.org/Barbados_Education_Act.pdf

• Emergency Management Act

https://www.barbadosparliament.com/htmlarea/uploaded/File/Bills/Emergency_Management_Bill__2006.pdf

• Emergency Managment (Amendment) Bill, 2020

https://www.barbadosparliament.com/uploads/bill_resolution/d9099a83cfa18d0598d3372b4c3e8009.pdf

• COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

https://gisbarbados.gov.bb/covid-19-protocols/

• Computer Misuse Act

http://www.oas.org/juridico/spanish/cyb_bbs_computer_misuse_2005.pdf

• The Constitution of Barbados

https://www.oas.org/dil/The_Constitution_of_Barbados.pdf