The latest figures for fatal occupational injuries in the Virgin Islands reveal just eight casualties, but, reflecting trends seen throughout the US, they all occurred in the higher risk industrial and construction sectors. Workplace injuries are rarely fatal, but they can occur in any industry including tourism — the islands’ largest employer.
While common accidents In the workplace usually only cause minor injuries and illnesses, they can still leave affected employees struggling to cope emotionally and financially while they recover. In order to protect all island workers, both federal and independently run health and safety programs offer support to employees injured at work, while at the same time working with employers to identify potential hazards and reduce the risk of accidents occurring.
Supporting Employees Affected by Injury or Illness
When staff are affected by an injury or illness, they may be temporarily prevented from working. This can be very stressful especially if they are concerned about the impact their absence may have on earnings. While insurance policies and compensation schemes can help to cover costs when recovering from an injury, preventing work-related accidents from happening in the first place should be a priority for all employers. Those with more than 10 members of staff must keep records of injuries and illnesses that occur in the workplace and these can help to ensure similar incidents are not repeated. Other health and safety standards are enforced through the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and through the Virgin Islands’ own division of occupational safety and health (VIDOSH) which has adopted and implements OSHA regulations.
Independent Advice for Employers to Prevent Work-Related Accidents
VIDOSH largely covers territorial government workers but it also provides free health and safety consultations to private sector employers. This is through an independent and confidential safety service offered by the University of the Virgin Islands university. One of the main aims of the Safety in Paradise scheme is to reduce hazards in the workplace and this is done through identifying potential hazards and raising awareness of safety compliance with business owners.
Implementing Health and Safety Regulations Through Model Law
In the Caribbean, OSHA regulations have been influenced by a CARICOM model law on occupational health and safety. The law has been developed with the assistance of the International Labor Organization (ILO) which also offers training workshops to help reinforce the adherence to workplace health and safety regulations. By supporting governments, individual businesses and workers’ organizations, the ILO aims to increase the safety of all employees at a national level, whether they work for federal or private employers.
While occupational fatalities are rare, less serious workplace injuries and illnesses are more commonplace and can temporarily prevent employees from working. In the Virgin Islands, both federal and independent health and safety organizations offer valuable advice to employers to help them to protect their employees from potential hazards at work and reduce the risk of illness or injury.
(Photo by Il Vagabiondo on Unsplash)