In light of a recent explosion at the Eugene F Correia International Airport while a Roraima Airways aircraft
The Roraima Airways aircraft which exploded
was under maintenance, the Labour Department has recommended that an ambulance be permanently stationed at the airport.
The department conducted an investigation into the June 20, 2016 industrial accident, which left aircraft engineer, Anil Rampersaud, with injures following the explosion. Senior Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Officer,Prandatt Basdeo, carried out the investigation.
At the time of the incident, Rampersaud and aircraft technician Darcy Chambers were executing maintenance tasks to the Roraima Airways Britten Norman Trislander aircraft.
It was reported that a fire erupted and Rampersaud, who was standing on the wing executing his duties, jumped to the ground upon seeing the fire. In the process, he injured his left heel and suffered burns to parts of his body. He was pulled to safety and rushed to the Woodlands Hospital in a car.
Chief Occupational Safety and Health Officer (ag), Lydia Greene said the Ministry finds it necessary to call on the airport’s authorities to take the necessary steps to ensure that an efficient ambulance service is provided – on site – at the Eugene F Correia International Airport.
She stated that during the investigations under focus, it was revealed that in the absence of an ambulance service, the injured employee had to be transported to a city hospital in a private car. In doing so, he was exposed to the possibility of further injury.
“The Ministry is of the view that such a deficiency in the safety arrangements at the airport needs to be urgently addressed by the airport authorities.”
Greene said that several short comings may have contributed to the accident and noted that the company is expected to take corrective actions immediately.
“Valuable lessons are always learnt from each accident and it is anticipated that the experiences garnered from this one will serve as a template to prevent similar occurrences. The Social Protection Ministry bemoaned the fact that there are far too many employers who treat occupational safety and health with scant regard because they place more value on profit than on people,” she said, adding that there are employers who place a high premium on the wellbeing of their workers by investing substantially in occupational safety and health.
She urged employers and employees to utilise the recently established hotline, 225-7008, to report all accidents and potential accidents urgently since, “safety is everybody’s business”.
