SXMElections.com

For the second time in three months a worker fell from a height while doing his job in St. Maarten (see related article). This time there was no serious injury, so the victim could be treated on the spot by ambulance personnel and didn't require hospitalisation.

It was different story on August 27, however, when Haitian mason Diuecel Bosse (54) of S&R Construction toppled into an empty elevator shaft at the former Ocean Terrace building in Maho then under renovation and died. There were rumours that he had been fleeing from an immigration raid held there that day, but this never was confirmed.

In general, one regularly can see people working at heights on the island without any safety line or even a helmet. These things actually are required by law, obviously for the employee's own wellbeing. As with any rules, lack of enforcement tends to lead to neglect, which is why it's essential to have frequent controls at especially building sites.

One of the problems is that inspection tasks used to be in the hands of the former Central Government of the Netherlands Antilles that was dismantled per 10-10-10, so country St. Maarten is still building up its capacity in that regard. It must be said, the various types of local inspectors gradually have become increasingly active, but there is evidently still much to be done, particularly concerning job safety.

The latter should not be seen as a threat or potential nuisance, but rather a necessity in the interest of the individuals and their employers, as well as whoever contracted them and up to a certain degree remains responsible. In fact, the businesses involved themselves also ought to show more awareness and better protect their personnel.

It's in a sense ironic that Tuesday's mishap occurred at the office of outgoing Health, Labour and Social Affairs Minister Cornelius de Weever. A more immediate and direct message about the need to tighten up on ensuring a healthy and safe working environment for all hardly can be imagined.