Starting this September, Barbadian workers across multiple industries will gain access to new specialized hands-on training focused on hazardous waste management and industrial workplace safety, launched through a multi-party partnership between the island nation’s National Transformation Initiative (NTI), the Barbados Institute of Management and Productivity (BIMAP), and global U.S.-based online learning platform Coursera. The collaboration was formalized Thursday during an official agreement signing that marked a key step forward for the country’s efforts to upgrade workplace safety standards.
BIMAP Executive Trustee Andrea Burgess outlined the unique structure of the upcoming programme in comments following the signing, noting that certified expert facilitators and purpose-built safety equipment will be brought in from Canada to support in-person instruction. Unlike generic safety training, this curriculum is designed to build proactive, preventive skills to help workers respond to on-site emergencies involving hazardous materials, with the end goal of creating safer work environments that reduce preventable accidents and harm.
Burgess explained that the new initiative builds on a 2021 online-only safety training pilot BIMAP previously ran. This updated iteration combines flexible online foundational learning from aligned Coursera courses with intensive, in-person practical skill-building that was missing from the earlier remote programme. The hands-on component, led by BIMAP’s trained team, will allow workers to practice using safety and hazardous waste treatment equipment directly, rather than only learning through theoretical online modules.
Addressing ongoing public concerns about elevated workplace fatality risks and weak safety protocols in Barbados’ construction sector, NTI Director Dr. Allyson Leacock emphasized that the partnership was built to align with the real-world needs of the island’s workforce. The training is designed to equip all levels of staff, from front-line on-site workers to senior executives and frontline supervisors, with contextually relevant knowledge that lets all employees complete their daily tasks safely and effectively.
Leacock added that this September safety training is just one component of a broader, industry-focused workforce development agenda BIMAP is rolling out across Barbados later this year. Burgess noted that BIMAP has identified a growing national demand for practical, skills-first workforce training across a range of critical industrial areas, not limited to workplace safety – extending to advanced equipment operation, cutting-edge industrial technology, and ongoing upskilling to match evolving workplace needs.