Ministry of Labor Offers Workshop on Protecting Laborers who Work in High Places

Ministry of Labor Offers Workshop on Protecting Laborers who Work in High Places
Santo Domingo Dominican Republic 10/31/2012

The Ministry of Labor, through the General Directorate of Industrial Hygiene and Safety, gave a workshop on “Protection for Working at Heights,” taking into consideration that occupational safety must be a priority in all areas of work but even more so for laborers who work in construction jobs and high places.

The objective of the workshop was to update employees and officials of the Directorate and inspectors on the latest specifications and safety equipment used by people who work at heights and to identify and understand the risks.

The objective of the workshop was to update employees and officials of the Directorate and inspectors on the latest specifications and safety equipment used by people who work at heights and to identify and understand the risks.

The Director of Industrial Hygiene and Safety of the Ministry of Labor, Dr. Patricia Bosch, who gave the welcoming speech, said that according to the International Labor Organization (ILO) occupations involving working at heights was responsible for the most accidental deaths in the world. Seventy percent of the falls result in the death of the worker on the spot.

Dr. Bosch said the Administration of Labor Health Safety Risks (ARLSS in Spanish) reported that this year the mortality rate for construction accidents is 3.70 percent.

“But with the implementation of industrial safety programs and good management, these deaths can be avoided,” she said.

John Martin, Representative of the 3M Advanced Technicians for Latin America, gave the workshop, which was also attended by representatives from the construction labor unions.