Safety must remain a crucial part of operations in the oil and gas sector but so too should respect and meaningful support for all workers, according to MODEC Guyana’s Director of Legal and Compliance, Yolander Sammy.
Sammy spoke at a symposium held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, in observance of Occupational Safety and Health. At this event, stakeholders in government and the private sector agreed that workers must be supported.
The MODEC representative flagged stress, burnout, work-life imbalances and harassment as some of the challenges workers may be confronted by in the workplace. However, she emphasised that leaders must remain attuned to the needs of their team members and actively craft responsive policies, including mental health support programmes, that cater to workers’ psychosocial well-being.
“Safety is not only the absence of physical harm, but it is also the presence of psychological safety, respect, fairness, and meaningful support. When workers feel valued and secure— mentally and emotionally— they don’t just cope, they thrive,” Sammy said.
Workplace safety is a priority in the oil and gas sector. There are requirements for strict adherence to international standards in both onshore and offshore operations. Sammy said MODEC is cognisant of this.
“As MODEC expands its footprint in Guyana, we are equally expanding our investment in holistic health and safety,” she said.
MODEC is an engineering company that designs, builds and installs Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessels used in the petroleum sector. The company has contracts for two FPSOs that will support operations in the prolific Stabroek Block offshore Guyana.
Like Sammy, several stakeholders spoke about support for workers at the symposium.
Guyana’s Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips emphasised that safety and support must not be traded for speed and productivity. He too highlighted the need for work-life balance and workers’ holistic well-being.
“No outcome in our workforce… is worth the cost of a single human life,” PM Phillips affirmed.
Meanwhile, Guyana’s Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith said organisations are constantly engaged on their safety systems and policies to support workers.
Even so, 13 workplace fatalities and 64 non-fatal incidents were recorded between January and April 2026. The minister said these tragedies are “troubling” and “unacceptable” and called for urgent strengthening of safety systems across all sectors.
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