By Chantalé Fletcher
Marine and Land Construction Services (LMCS) has been taken off from all work on the pipelines at Paria Fuel Trading Company Ltd temporarily.
This was revealed by Minister of Energy and Energy Industries Stuart Young in response to Opposition Chief Whip David Lee in the house of Representatives on Friday.
Young said, “All major project and non-routine operations have been suspended and operations are limited to routine maintenance operations. An external independent review will be done on all risk assessments, methods, statements, hazard analysis, prior to the authorisation of work permits at Paria including when dealing with subcontractors.”
In referring to steps taken to prevent the reoccurrence of the incident at Paria, Young said that a meeting with all contractor employees will be held and safety orientation will be re-done on all employee contractors.
Lee asked Young about the events that transpired on February 25 at Berth 6 at Paria where four divers lost their lives.
Young said the Government will not speculate or make any assumptions with respect to what may or may not have happened that led up to this traffic accident, where unfortunately four nationals have lost their lives.
He reiterated that a five-member panel chaired by attorney Shiv Sharma with experts, two of which were representatives from BP and Shell.
Young said, “Let us await respectfully, as it is prudent to await the outcome of that investigation.
“And there’s nothing further that will be said at this stage by the Government with respect to this question at this stage.”
When asked about further steps taken by Paria to assist the families of the divers, Young said, “Paria continues to communicate with the families daily as to how they could further support them at this time.”
He said that traumatologist Hanif Benjamin, of the Centre for Human Development and PEAPSL, has been engaged to provide counselling services to the dependents of the divers.
“This offer was initially made on February 26, 2022, and continues to be available should the family wish to utilise this service.
“The service was initially offered to the dependents for a period of one year and will be extended as required.”
Please provide credentials of the persons comprising the investigation team. In is clear the OSHA regulations for Confined Space was breached. Risk Assesments need to include persons who are experts in the field of work being done and the dangers involved. Were the work areas clearly defined? Were the Isolations lockedout and tagged out? There are a lot to answer. However we all know there would be a coverup. This will end up as the divers were working in the wrong place. But the thing is, it is the Company’s obligation to ensure that they cannot have access to the wrong place. 🤔🤔🤔🤔
Please provide credentials of the persons comprising the investigation team. In is clear the OSHA regulations for Confined Space was breached. Risk Assesments need to include persons who are experts in the field of work being done and the dangers involved. Were the work areas clearly defined? Were the Isolations lockedout and tagged out? There are a lot to answer. However we all know there would be a coverup. This will end up as the divers were working in the wrong place. But the thing is, it is the Company’s obligation to ensure that they cannot have access to the wrong place. 🤔🤔🤔🤔