Dr Owen James (left) listens to Leanna Gunning (right), an occupational nurse, before the start of the first members' meeting of the Jamaica Occupational Health Professionals Association, on Sunday. The function was held at the PCJ Auditorium in St Andrew. Looking on is June Coward-Fearon, coordinator of hearing services at the Jamaica Association for the Deaf. - Norman Grindley/Acting Photography Editor
Dr Owen James, chairman of the Jamaica Occupational Health Professionals Association (JOHPA), has urged organisations in Jamaica to raise safety standards and eliminate workplace hazards.
"The workplace is associated with several different dangers, so we need to know about them and eliminate or minimise them. Conditions everywhere are unsatisfactory," he said.
"Different countries have different levels of occupational safety. We have a fairly good programme here, but it is not quite good enough and in areas where they (occupational health standards) are applied they are not intense enough or adequately implemented."
James spoke to The Gleaner during JOHPA's first general meeting at the PCJ Auditorium on Sunday. The organisation was launched on October 3, 2008.
Noting that every capacity of work was subject to occupational health standards, the chairman said agriculture, food, hotels, construction, transportation, utilities and security were among the industries that would benefit from JOHPA's advocacy.
Reform
James said JOHPA would be seeking to lobby for reform in the business sector and raise public awareness by hosting seminars and other events with bureaucrats from the ministries of Mining, Labour and Health.
The head of the occupational health group also said the organisation would be pressing for legislative change.