Partner with HEART to train construction workers

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I am writing this letter with reference to the article, ‘Developers should assist workmen to get certified – Chuck‘, published in The Gleaner on August 1. The Government should partner with HEART/NSTA Trust to offer training and courses.

The Congress of the United of States federal government enacted the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OHSA) Act.

It is designed to ensure “safe and healthy working conditions for men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, education, and assistance”.

Parliament should enact laws, using the concept of OSHA, so that construction developers will have to maximise the training and certification that HEART/NSTA offers. The categories of OHSA are general industry, construction, maritime, and agriculture, which they offer across the United States. The OHSA programmes offer many training courses for businesses.

For example, outreach training programme of OHSA offers 10-hour and 30-hour classes. The 10-hour class is intended to provide workers with awareness of common job-related safety and health hazards, while the 30-hour safety course provides a greater variety of safety subjects, and in-depth.

Upon completion of these courses, the students receive 10-hour and 30-hour certificates.

Since HEART has been providing training and certification for 30 years, by law construction developers should have been able to acquire the requisite training and certification from them.

CARGILL KELLY