Guyana is developing new health, safety and labor regulations for the oil and gas sector as the country works to strengthen protections for workers and the environment, according to Senior Petroleum Coordinator at the Ministry of Natural Resources, Bobby Gossai Jnr.
Gossai made the remarks during the August 17 edition of the Energy Perspectives podcast, where he explained that the regulatory measures being developed are a collective effort.
“We are working on our health and safety regulations for the oil and gas sector. We are working with the Ministry of Labour in terms of labor regulations to make sure that people are protected, and the environment is protected,” Gossai said.
Guyana’s existing Occupational Safety and Health Act (Chapter 99:06) predates the country’s oil industry. Passed in 1997 and brought into force in 1999, it provides the broader framework for workplace safety and requires employers to maintain safe and healthy working conditions.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has noted that the sector’s rapid expansion has increased workers’ exposure to occupational risks, making updated legislation and sector-specific regulations important for identifying and managing hazards and preventing injuries and illnesses.
Guyana is now working to amend the Act and develop oil and gas-specific safety regulations, with support from the ILO.
In the meantime, Gossai said the government will continue monitoring offshore activities with the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure safe work practices and environmental stewardship.
“We [Guyana] subscribe to international best practices when it comes to the health, safety and the environmental concerns of the oil and gas sector here in Guyana…And this is how we are safeguarding our people and the infrastructure that we have in place,” he said.
Guyana’s oil operations occur at the ExxonMobil-operated Stabroek Block. Employment in the industry has grown to thousands of workers across operations, logistics, engineering and support services tied to oil production.
