Property owners and contractors are reminded that they must have the correct sanitary facilities in place for workers on building or construction sites.
This directive has come from the Environmental Health Department of the Ministry of Health and Wellness. The department has seen an increase in reports of persons building houses with no sanitary facilities in place for workers to use.
As a result, it advises land and property owners as well as contractors that the Health Services (Building) Regulations, 1969 CAP.44 states that “the owner of any building and the builder or contractor of any construction operation shall:
(a) Provide the workmen with temporary conveniences which shall be constructed in a manner approved by the Medical Officer of Health; and the owner or occupier of premises shall (b) Keep all conveniences in a sanitary condition and in good repair”.
It further states that a person who fails to comply with these regulations, or with any notice issued thereunder, shall be guilty of an offence, and shall, on summary conviction, be liable to a fine of $5,000, or imprisonment, and in the case of a continuing offence to a further fine of $200 for each day or part thereof during which the offence continues after a first conviction.