Accident at Eugene F Correia Airport shows need for on-site ambulance
GINA, GUYANA, Friday, October 07, 2016
Chief Occupational Safety and Health (OS&H) Officer, Lydia Greene today, handed over the official report on the investigation into the injury of Aircraft Technician, Anil Rampersaud to Roraima Airways.
Investigating Officer presenting a copy of the report to Human Resource Officer, Roraima Airways, Glenis Archer
On June 20, 2015 at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, fire erupted from a trislander aircraft belonging to Roraima Airways. Rampersaud and others were working on the aircraft at the time of the incident.
Rampersaud who was standing on the left wing of the aircraft where the fire erupted, jumped to the ground which was approximately 6 feet below the trislander and in the process injured his left heel. He was pulled to safety and rushed to the Woodlands Hospital.
Greene said that the findings and recommendations are quite simple and while there is no intention at this stage to divulge too much, the Ministry finds it necessary to call on the airport authority to take the necessary steps to ensure that an efficient ambulance service is provided on site at the airport.
“During the investigations …, 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 as doing he was exposed to the possibility of further injury,” Greene read from the report.
The report also identified other short comings and it is expected that corrective actions will be taken 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
Chief Occupational Safety and Health Officer, Lydia Greene presenting the report
occurrences,” the report stated.
The report also indicated that there are too many employers who treat OS&H with scant regard because they place more value on profit than on people. “On the other hand, there are others who place a high value on premium on the wall being of their workers by investing substantially in OS&H” the report stated.
The report indicated that the employer is required to report to the Chief OS&H officer any non-fatal accident within four days, in accordance to the provisions of Section 69. (1) (b) of the OS&H Act, Chapter 99:10.
Greene indicated that the Ministry of Social Protection makes these observations against the backdrop of a recent engagement with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) which was designed to enhance Guyana’s Decent Work Country Programme which includes O&SH
The Ministry encouraged members of the public to utilize the recently established Hot Line services to report all accidents and potential accidents urgently. The public can report safety breaches including work place accidents on telephone number 225-0008.
By: Ranetta La Fleur