Methanex Trinidad Ltd management and staff won the top prize—the Excellence in HSE Award—at the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago’s (AMCHAM) 14th Annual National Excellence in HSE awards held at the Hyatt Regency (Trinidad) hotel, Port of Spain, on Monday.
Several other companies received honourable mentions, including:
• Energy—Medium Company Category—Contour Global Trinity Power Ltd
• Services—Medium Campany Category—CSA Ocean Sciences (Trinidad) Ltd
• Services—Large Company Category—Bristow Caribbean Ltd
• Energy—Large Company Category—Halliburton Trinidad Ltd.
The winners in the Outstanding OSH and Environment Project were the National Energy Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd, Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI) and The West Indian Tobacco Company Ltd.
The winner of the HSE Evolution Award was The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NGC).
Delivering the feature address, Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon lamented the exorbitant costs associated with ignoring health, safety and environmental (HSE) practices.
“The economic costs associated with ignoring HSE issues were also significant in 2022; according to the American National Safety Council, the total cost of work injuries in the United States alone was about US$167 billion. This figure includes more than simply wage and productivity losses, medical expenses and administrative expenses. It encompasses employers’ uninsured costs, the value of time lost by workers other than those with disabling injuries who are directly or indirectly involved in injuries, and the cost of time required to investigate injuries, write up injury reports and other administrative functions, damage to motor vehicles and also fire losses,” she said.
She added: “HSE practices have become foundational to profitability and progress. If ignored, it comes with a real and significant human and economic cost. Looking at safety, for instance: according to a 2023 report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), over 395 million workers worldwide sustained a non-fatal injury. Additionally, and more alarmingly, around 2.93 million workers died as a result of work-related factors, an increase of more than 12% compared to 2000.”
Gopee-Scoon said the State understands the imperatives of health, safety and environment.
“We are well on our way to ensuring greater adoption and compliance. The Labour Ministry and the Occupational, Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) are directly spearheading efforts to raise awareness of these issues and help develop the necessary policies to address challenges in the workplace across all sectors.”