By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE Occupational Safety and Health Authority and Agency (OSHA) has already launched its own investigation into the incident at sea that caused four men to tragically lose their lives.
In a press release on Tuesday, the OSH Agency stated that it received notification from Paria Fuel Trading Company at approximately 4 pm on Friday of an accident that involved five divers employed by contractor LMCS. The divers became trapped inside one of the pipelines while performing maintenance works.
OSHA stated, “The Agency immediately responded to the report and was led by the Chief Inspector who attended the scene of the accident immediately upon notification. The Agency has already initiated its own investigation into this accident in the context of the duties and requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act Chapter 88:08 and to seek to determine the cause.”
The Agency also extended condolences to the family members of the four divers who died.
Rishi Nagassar, Fyzal Kurban, Yusuf Henry and Kazim Ali Jr were sucked into the pipeline on Friday while doing work to repair a leak.
The bloated bodies of Kurban, Henry and Ali Jr were found on Monday. The search continues for Nagassar’s body.
Christopher Boodram is the sole survivor of the incident.
“OSHA extends its sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased and remains committed to fostering the protection of the safety and health of all persons in workplaces in Trinidad and Tobago and compliance with the OSH Act,” OSHA stated.
OSHA is a statutory agency of the Ministry of Labour.
On Monday, Energy Minister Stuart Young announced that an independent team will be appointed to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
