Regional Forum on Industrial Risk Prevention and Resilience Held in Santo Domingo A regional forum on industrial risk prevention and resilience was held on November 4 and 5 in Santo Domingo, bringing together authorities and representatives from the productive sector to exchange experiences, strengthen capacities and promote a culture of prevention and emergency preparedness. The event was organized by the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic (AIRD), Responsabilidad Integral® Colombia, the National Network for Business Support to Environmental Protection (ECORED), and ARISE Dominican Republic. Participants highlighted the need to strengthen prevention of risks associated with the handling of chemicals and to prepare for emergencies through cooperation among the productive sector, authorities and response agencies in the Dominican Republic and Central America. The forum, part of the Regional Resilience, Prevention and Industrial Safety Forum, aimed to foster the exchange of best practices for safer work environments, enhance prevention capabilities and support the continuity of industrial operations. A technical workshop focused on strengthening capacities for implementing the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) and Responsible Care®, as well as on managing technological risk. During the opening, representatives from the participating institutions emphasized the importance of regional cooperation and public‑private partnership to advance risk prevention, industrial safety and the creation of more resilient environments. They also discussed challenges and opportunities for more effective management of chemical and technological risks. Mario Pujols, executive vice‑president of AIRD, said: “Responsible management of chemicals requires identifying hazards, applying control measures, training workers and having preparation and response protocols. These actions protect people and communities while enhancing productivity and operational continuity.” Pujols highlighted the GHS as an international reference for communicating chemical hazards through consistent labeling and safety data sheets. He added that the Dominican Republic and Central America have an opportunity to advance technical compatibility, share training tools and strengthen emergency cooperation while respecting national regulatory frameworks. “Chemical management policies should be built through public‑private dialogue that integrates environmental, labor, health and risk management authorities with companies and industrial organizations,” he concluded. Minister of Industry, Commerce and Small and Medium Enterprises Yayo Sanz Lovatón stressed that strengthening industrial safety is essential for sustainable economic development. He noted that risk prevention, worker protection and operational continuity preserve jobs, strengthen business confidence and ensure investment sustainability. He called for greater cooperation between the Dominican Republic and Central America through the exchange of best practices, technical capacity building and coordination between authorities and the business sector. “The regional challenge is to turn dialogue into concrete commitments,” he said, adding that identifying gaps, sharing tools and strengthening joint capacities will build a safer, more resilient and competitive region. Labor Minister Eddy Olivares, who participated in the forum, praised AIRD for demonstrating the voluntary commitment of entrepreneurs to worker welfare. He emphasized that prevention is an investment in people’s lives, company sustainability and the economy’s future. “We all must contribute to building the highest tower of prevention culture. It is a time of risks. No one is free from risk,” he said. Olivares added that quality jobs cannot exist without safe work environments, adequate protection and a prevention culture that preserves life and integrity. Christy Luciano, interim chair of ECORED’s Board of Directors, underscored the importance of integrating prevention and risk management into corporate culture as part of a sustainability and competitiveness vision. “Sustainable development cannot exist without resilience, and resilience cannot exist without preventive risk management. When prevention becomes part of organizational culture, we understand that protecting people, operations and communities also protects the future of our companies and our countries,” she said. The forum also covered topics such as storage and management of flammable substances, fire response, coordination among companies, emergency agencies and authorities, and joint work to define priorities and regional monitoring mechanisms.
Article source: De Ultimo Minuto | Image credit: De Ultimo Minuto