The Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) is renewing calls for the government to appoint the long-awaited Construction Contractors Board after a 26-year-old man died after falling on his first day at a construction site, arguing that stronger industry oversight and safety standards are urgently needed.
In a statement issued yesterday, the BCA expressed condolences to the family of the deceased worker, and said the incident highlighted persistent concerns about safety practices within the construction sector.
“This heartbreaking incident serves as a sobering reminder of the critical importance of safety measures in the construction industry, particularly concerning work at heights,” the BCA said.
The association said it could not comment on the specifics of the accident, but suggested there appeared to be questions about whether adequate safety procedures were in place.
“Again, we call on the government of The Bahamas to appoint the Construction Contractors Board which will regulate the construction industry,” the BCA said.
“While we cannot speak to the details of the unfortunate incident, it seems that minimum safety standards were not in place to ensure a safe working environment.”
The association noted that five people have died in construction-related incidents so far this year, and questioned whether the latest tragedy could have been prevented.
“There are many questions that remain in the minds of the public related to this unfortunate event. Could such an incident have been avoided? What is the company’s onboarding process? Did the lack of adequate safety training and supervision contribute to the accident? We cannot allow this event to go quietly into the night,” the BCA said.
Police said the man died when he fell from the roof of a building undergoing construction in Sandilands Village in eastern New Providence, shortly before 1 p.m. on Tuesday. They reported that the man fell onto the concrete floor, but did not confirm the cause of the fall.
“We call on the relevant authorities to investigate this matter for the benefit of the deceased, his family and the public,” the BCA said.
BCA President Leonard Sands has long called on the government to implement the statutorily mandated Bahamas Contractors Board, so that Bahamians contractors will be able to become licensed and therefore properly regulated.
The incident was also referenced in the House of Assembly yesterday by Minister of Labour and Public Service Pia Glover-Rolle, during her contribution to the 2026/2027 budget debate.
She contended that the government is an important part of ensuring worker safety is at a standard internationally accepted for each industry.
“The relevance of this work could not be more timely. As this honorable House debates this budget, our nation is once again reminded that workplace safety is not an abstract policy decision. It’s a matter of life, health, dignity, and the protection of Bahamian workers and their families,” Glover-Rolle said.
“Yesterday’s [Tuesday’s] industrial accident was underscored by the importance of ensuring that occupational safety and health remains at the forefront of our national agenda. Every worker deserves to return home safely at the end of their work day. Every employer deserves access to clear guidance and support to maintain safe work spaces. And every government has the responsibility to establish the systems, the standards and the enforcement mechanisms necessary to make that possible.”
Glover-Rolle said the Department of Labour is strengthening its occupational safety and health unit and plans to introduce drone-assisted inspections for high-risk worksites, including large construction projects.
The minister also said the department has partnered with the Ministry of Works’ Buildings Control Unit to establish a comprehensive inventory of active construction sites throughout The Bahamas.
“Our objective is clear, to move beyond reacting to incidents and towards preventing them,” Glover-Rolle said.
“We must build a culture where safety is not viewed as an afterthought, but as a shared responsibility embraced by employers, workers, contractors and the government alike.”
The BCA also announced in its statement, plans to introduce additional safety training for contractors, including a fall protection certification course scheduled for mid-July.
“The BCA is implementing a specific fall protection certification course for its members in mid-July, with the aim of reducing risks associated with this kind of work,” the BCA statement said.
The association added that the initiative is intended to provide contractors with the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent workplace accidents and improve site safety.
“We urge all construction companies to prioritize safety training and to implement robust measures that safeguard their teams,” the BCA said.
“Together, we can work towards a safer construction industry and prevent tragedies like this from occurring in the future.”
