Demerara Waves Online News- Guyana Riding on the Crest of Truth
Last Updated on Tuesday, 13 October 2015, 17:16 by GxMedia
Municipal workers cleaning under a bridge at Avenue of the Republic and Robb Street, Georgetown.
âSome of them, they donât care. They continue as they do but we tell them what is right,â she told Demerara Waves Online News.
Each day, they are seen in either knee or waist-deep thick sludge clearing the canals, trenches and drains in the city.
Most of them are poorly clad and even if they were dressed appropriately, their bodies would have been still immersed in the bacteria-laden material.
Dr. Jeffrey said three weeks ago she addressed the Georgetown Municipalityâs workers and representatives of privately-contracted companies about the importance of taking hepatitis and tetanus vaccines.
But she lamented that most of the workers were not heeding her advice and refusing to wear protective clothing so that they could avoid falling ill. âThe Council give some of them and donât even wear it. We have a problem. People donât like to listen to youâŠIt is very unhealthy. Some of them donât want to do the right thing,â she said.
âYou give them materials to protect themselves, they donât wear it. They tell you they donâtâ feel comfortable to work with clothes and they throw it. I donât know what I can say but itâs very critical,â she added.
Asked whether the workers were being provided with supplies to bathe and clean their skin, she said nothing has been supplied and workers were responsible for their personal hygiene. âWe didnât give them anything and every single person should take care of themselves for their own safety,â she said.
The Ministry of Social Protectionâs Department of Labour, Occupational Safety and Health has been inspecting several work-sites where there have been poor occupational safety and health practices.