October 14, 2023 – The Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS) celebrates World Standards Day 2023 with a special workshop on Occupational Health and Safety Standards. The event will take place on October 19, 2023, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am at the Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre.
The workshop’s main objectives include fostering discussions on critical topics such as psychological health and safety in the workplace, promoting a supportive work environment, and leveraging Occupational Health and Safety standards to enhance worker safety while addressing mental health concerns.
Distinguished attendees at this event will include Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry, and distinguished international and national experts in the field of standardization. The workshop will facilitate insightful discussions and fruitful collaborations.
National Impact: Prioritizing Well-being for Prosperity
The event will highlight the critical interconnection between labour productivity, economic prosperity, and well-being. In a study conducted by RTI International for the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), it has been revealed that the economic cost, encompassing healthcare expenses and productivity losses attributed to diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, totals approximately $8.7 billion TTD annually—equivalent to about 5% of the current GDP.
Thus, there is an urgent need to emphasize the psychological well-being of employees by leveraging the pivotal role of standards. This pivotal workshop aims to promote awareness about standards as catalysts for driving positive change while creating systems to safeguard the health and well-being of our citizens.
Background: World Standards Day
World Standards Day is a globally celebrated event that takes place on October 14th each year. This initiative, endorsed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), is designed to increase awareness of the significance of standardization in our modern world.
The focus for World Standards Day 2023 is the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” TTBS, in alignment with the global standardization community, is passionately involved in this multi-year campaign that emphasizes the pivotal role of standards in realizing the UN SDGs.
TTBS has committed to aligning its efforts with the UN SDGs and Vision 2030: The National Development Strategy, giving paramount importance to SDG 3, which centres on ensuring healthy lives and promoting wellness for all. Under the theme “Shared Vision for a Better World,” TTBS aims to address these crucial matters during the workshop, aligning its actions with the government’s dedication to economic growth and sustainability as outlined in the National Quality Policy 2018-2030.
For additional information, please reach out to: Natalie Dennie, Marketing Officer, Email: natalie.dennie@ttbs.org.tt, Phone: (868) 662-8827 Ext: 2260.
Join TTBS in celebrating World Standards Day 2023 and in our collective efforts to build a brighter, healthier, and more sustainable future for all.
-ENDS-