By Sue-Ann Wayow
A REGULATORY framework should be put in place for commercial diving in Trinidad and Tobago.
Attorney representing the Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union (SWWTU) Nyree Alfonso made the recommendation during her closing statements at the Commission of Enquiry (CoE) on Wednesday.
She said given that this country was an energy-based economy and diving constituted part of that, there should be laws that govern the diving industry.
Alfonso said, “This would include providing minimum certification for persons undertaking commercial diving works, audit and certification of schools providing instructions to such persons, inspection and audit of diving equipment.”
“We would expect that the said regulatory framework would include robust powers of oversight, enforcement and prosecution of employers who depart from what would now be a mandatory, regulatory framework.”
Using scuba equipment on the job at Berth #6 on February 25, 2022, when LMCS employees Fyzal Kurban, Yusuf Henry, Kazim Ali Jr and Rishi Nagassar were sucked into a pipeline, was not in breach of any regulations although it may not have been advisable, she said.
Alfonso said both LMCS and Paria lacked in developing rescue plans that could have aided in bringing the men out alive which included having a hyperbaric chamber.
This included not sharing sufficient information with each other as it appeared as though, they were operating in silos, she said.
Evidence provided also showed that there was no plan in place to mitigate or respond to the outcome of a Delta-P situation as it was not mentioned in tender documents by LMCS, Alfonso said.
She said, “I and those whom I represent do not believe that Paria was placed in an easy position on the night of Friday the 25th of February but Paria must accept that they made very wrong decisions on that night and the day following which ultimately cost the men their lives.”
