Did you know that a simple accident prevention tag; a small, brightly coloured label attached to any machinery or access point could be the critical warning that prevents injuries from occurring? Yes, these tags serve as temporary means of warning employees and other stakeholders of an existing hazard in industrial, marine, and commercial environments.
Recognising its importance in maintaining safe workplaces, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) is reviewing the National Standard GYS 208:2002 – Specification for Accident Prevention Tags. The Technical Committee (TC) 10 – Personal Safety, met on several occasions to review the document to make necessary inclusions and exclusions, prior to the ongoing ‘Public Comments’ period which ends on August 29, 2025.
Meanwhile, to maximize input from all stakeholders, during this stage of the Standards Development Process, GNBS will be hosting a public consultation session on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. The session will provide a platform for meaningful dialogue that should yield information relevant to the standard in areas including public and occupational safety, regulatory compliance, and workplace excellence. GNBS is encouraging participation by health and safety officers, engineers, plant supervisors, marine operators, and construction professionals.
Adopted in 2002, the GYS 208:2002 standard outlines the technical specifications for accident prevention tags used in industrial settings, mercantile establishments and marine vessels, port crafts, and other areas where hazard warnings are critical. The standard ensures that tags are clearly visible, durable, and effective in communicating danger to personnel.
Importantly, the standard notes that these tags are intended for temporary use only; they are not substitutes for permanent accident prevention signs. Instead, they serve as short-term, high-impact warnings of an immediate threat to prevent injury or damage during equipment maintenance, shutdowns, or hazard exposure.
As industries evolve and safety practices improve, standards must also be updated to reflect modern technologies, best practices, and international benchmarks. The review of the GYS 208:2002 standard offers a timely opportunity to gather technical input, practical experiences, and regulatory insights from stakeholders who apply safety protocols every day.
Stakeholders are invited to participate in the upcoming consultation session or to submit written comments by the specified deadline. Written comments can be submitted to the GNBS using the Comments Sheet on the website, or via email: public.comments@gnbsgy.org
For further information on this subject, contact GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0064 or 219-0065, WhatsApp us on 692-4627 or visit our website www.gnbsgy.org
