Dear Editor,
The opening of applications for an upgraded Occupational Safety and Health diploma is a timely development for Guyana’s workforce. As our industrial sectors expand, safety training must prepare Guyanese not only to enter the workplace but also to lead teams and manage complex operations.
Occupational safety is more than protective equipment and warning signs. Supervisors and managers must be able to identify hazards, assess risks, communicate procedures and respond properly when something goes wrong. These capabilities are essential in oil and gas, construction, mining, manufacturing and other high-risk industries.
Much of the local-content discussion has focused on how many Guyanese are employed. Employment matters, but progression matters too. We should also be asking how many Guyanese are moving into technical, supervisory and management positions.
Advanced safety qualifications can support that progression. However, certification alone does not guarantee a job or promotion. Participants will need practical experience, while employers must provide mentorship, workplace exposure and clear pathways for capable workers to assume greater responsibility.
The value of this training also extends beyond oil and gas. Construction sites, factories, warehouses, hospitals and public institutions all need qualified professionals who understand risk and prevention.
Guyana’s progress should not be measured only by the number of major projects underway. It should also be measured by whether our people are becoming capable of safely and responsibly managing those projects.
This program therefore represents the direction workforce development should take moving beyond getting Guyanese through the door and preparing them to supervise, manage and eventually shape the standards by which our industries operate.
Yours faithfully,
Samantha Browne
