Caribbean marks World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2026

Across the Caribbean, World Day for Safety and Health at Work (WDSHW) 2026 highlighted the vital role of psychosocial well-being in building safe, productive, and resilient workplaces. Through community action and national leadership statements, countries across the region reinforced a shared commitment to mental well-being, dignity at work, and a strong culture of prevention.

Barbados

On World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2026 (28 April), Barbados marked the occasion with a ministerial statement from the Honourable Colin Jordan, Minister of Labour, Social Security and the Third Sector. He emphasized that psychosocial well-being must be central to safe and decent work, noting that “policies alone do not create healthy workplaces—people do.”

Guyana

On Sunday, 26 April 2026, Guyana marked a major milestone with the largest-ever Region Four OSH Day Health Walk, bringing together more than 2,000 participants from 51 agencies and partners in the lead-up to World Day for Safety and Health at Work. Observed under the theme Good psychosocial work environments = thriving workers & stronger organizations, participants walked from the Square of the Revolution to the Seawall Bandstand, sending a powerful national message that protecting mental well-being, dignity, and safety at work is a shared responsibility.

As part of OSH Month 2026, the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning also hosted an OSH Symposium at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre under the theme “Putting Safety First,” with focused discussions on psychosocial working environments. Vera Guseva, Specialist, Workers’ Activities, ILO Caribbean Office, contributed to the dialogue, reinforcing the importance of prevention, social dialogue, and shared responsibility.

Grenada

On World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2026 (28 April), Grenada marked the occasion with a national message from Senator the Honourable Claudette Joseph, Attorney General and Minister for Legal Affairs, Labour and Consumer Affairs. She reaffirmed that decent work must never come at the cost of physical, mental, or emotional health.

In support of this commitment, Grenada announced the launch of a national OSH survey to assess occupational safety and health conditions, including psychosocial risks such as work-related stress and fatigue, and continued progress on its Decent Work Country Programme, with a strengthened focus on OSH legislation, institutions, and enforcement.

Jamaica

On World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2026, Jamaica marked the day with a statement from the Honourable Pearnel Charles Jr., MP, JP, Minister of Labour and Social Security. He called for a broader understanding of workplace safety, stressing that true safety goes beyond physical hazards to include mental and social well-being, and urged collective action by employers, workers, and government.

Saint Kitts and Nevis

The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis observed World Day for Safety and Health at Work on 28 April under the ILO theme Let’s ensure a healthy psychosocial working environment, promoting prevention of occupational accidents, diseases, and psychosocial risks. In her national address, Minister of Employment and Labour, the Honourable Marsha Henderson, stressed that “safety within the working environment benefits both the employee and the organisation.” She urged adaptation to evolving technologies, equipment, and policies through robust structures, emphasizing employers' primary responsibility: “The responsibility largely rests on your shoulders to provide a safe working environment for all.” Henderson called for equipping workers with tools and training, enforcing guidelines, and prioritizing compliance, declaring “any commitment to safety in the workspace is guaranteed to save lives and must therefore be a number one priority.”

Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia joined the international community in observing World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2026. The call to action came during a national Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Seminar on April 28 that brought together engineers, environmental health officers, facility managers, and other key stakeholders to confront an emerging national challenge. ILO Caribbean Director Joni Musabayana addressed the seminar, welcoming Saint Lucia’s recent ratification of ILO Conventions 155 and 187, framing occupational health as a foundational right, and urging a shift from reactive to preventive OHS through tripartite policy‑making. He highlighted climate‑amplified risks such as mold and poor indoor air quality driven by rising humidity and aging buildings, and called for practical measures including improved ventilation, stronger inspection systems, and better building standards, while pledging ILO support to translate commitments into action.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

VINLEC launched its annual Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Awareness Month on 27 April at Kingstown Baptist Church under the theme “Unmute, Unblock, Unwind: Your Personal Safety Begins with a Healthy Mind”, tying into the ILO’s psychosocial focus. The kick-off event opened a month of activities to educate and empower staff/communities on open dialogue and well-being for safer practices. Communications Officer Bria King emphasized: “EHS Month lets workers pause, refocus, and recommit to... our safety, health, environment, and the well-being of those who make this organization work every day.”

Trinidad and Tobago

On 29 April, the Ministry of Finance led a wellness-focused observance at the Eric Williams Finance Building under the ILO theme. The one-hour session—“Good psychosocial working environments: A pathway to thriving workers and strong organizations”—blended education and participation: a skit by Communications and Building Management Units dramatized stressors and spotlighted the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP); Ms. Sirryea Mohammed, HRO III (Ag.), detailed confidential mental health services; and Staff Fitness Centre demos taught breathing techniques for daily resilience. OSHA's Executive Director referenced 149 psychosocial cases (2016–2025), including violence and overload, noting gaps in the OSH Act. She urged employers to build inclusive cultures and workers to engage actively, with OSHA providing inspections, training, and enforcement for sustainable workplaces.

A Shared Caribbean Commitment

World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2026 reaffirmed a growing Caribbean consensus: healthy psychosocial working environments are fundamental to decent work, resilient enterprises, and inclusive growth. From large-scale community action in Guyana to strong ministerial leadership across the region, the Caribbean continues to move forward together in building safer, healthier workplaces for all.