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MINISTER of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud, yesterday visited the Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated, Region 10, where he engaged the company’s management officials and urged them to reinforce their safety practices and programmes, not only on the road, but also in the mines and in the plant. On Thursday last, three Bosai workers were killed in an accident involving a pick-up and a hauler truck, and two injured at the bauxite company’s East Montgomery Mine site. Immediately after the incident, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour launched an investigation and examined the occupational health and safety practices at the Chinese company’s operations.
From all reports, the company has a functioning occupational health and safety department, and has been continuously engaging workers in health and safety training programmes.
“I would like for there to be a total review of not only the protocol, but also based on what you may find…interview people and ensure they understand what is being told to them,” Minister Persaud told the officials.
Recently Cabinet approved the new regulation for Occupational Health and Safety (OS&H), and according to Minister Persaud, the ministry will be meeting with all the small, large and medium scale mining companies to reinforce those health and safety rules.
This, he said, came as a result of the ministry’s effort to make the mining sector safer, preventing accidents, fatalities or injuries. “Our aim is to have zero accidents, zero deaths,” he emphasised.
Minister Persaud added that the ministry, in collaboration with the Labour Ministry, will be conducting more inspections in the mining companies and ensuring ongoing training.
Bosai’s management has been monitoring and taking the necessary steps to ensure full recovery of Marlon Pollydore and Fabian Anthony, the two survivors of the accident. Anthony has been released from the Linden Hospital, and a further private evaluation was conducted by a specialist doctor in Georgetown.
However, Pollydore, whom the minister met in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, is scheduled to undergo another surgery to remove the tubes that were placed in him.
The company will also be providing assistance to the families, apart from the regular insurance coverage.
Minister Persaud also visited the families of driver of the pick-up, 43-year old Michael Williams, mechanic 62-year old Trenton Garner, and 20-year old Kester Grant, when he assured them that the company will fulfill its obligations to them.
He also urged that the company provide counselling for the driver of the heavy-duty truck, and if possible, witnesses.
When asked by the minister what occurred on that fateful day, the company’s OH&S co-ordinator, Raymond Sankar, explained that, based on investigations, the driver of the pick-up was in the process of undertaking the hauler truck. He said that the pick-up was crushed after it slid under the truck, which drove over it as they traversed the company’s internal road at the mine site.
Sankar said that the procedure is that pick-ups should give way to hauler trucks.
Following the accident, the company had put a halt to its operations.
“A tragedy such as this does require us to ensure that we heal the situation at hand, but also to proceed with production and satisfy markets,” Minister Persaud said.
Minister Persaud added that the ministry has been working with the company to ensure that they meet their target.
He further stated that bauxite production has been decreasing across the country, and the ministry has been working to ensure that the rate of output “kicks in” in the second half of this year. The target, he said, is to have 500,000 tonnes and the company is hoping to reach close to that target. (GINA)
From all reports, the company has a functioning occupational health and safety department, and has been continuously engaging workers in health and safety training programmes.
“I would like for there to be a total review of not only the protocol, but also based on what you may find…interview people and ensure they understand what is being told to them,” Minister Persaud told the officials.
Recently Cabinet approved the new regulation for Occupational Health and Safety (OS&H), and according to Minister Persaud, the ministry will be meeting with all the small, large and medium scale mining companies to reinforce those health and safety rules.
This, he said, came as a result of the ministry’s effort to make the mining sector safer, preventing accidents, fatalities or injuries. “Our aim is to have zero accidents, zero deaths,” he emphasised.
Minister Persaud added that the ministry, in collaboration with the Labour Ministry, will be conducting more inspections in the mining companies and ensuring ongoing training.
Bosai’s management has been monitoring and taking the necessary steps to ensure full recovery of Marlon Pollydore and Fabian Anthony, the two survivors of the accident. Anthony has been released from the Linden Hospital, and a further private evaluation was conducted by a specialist doctor in Georgetown.
However, Pollydore, whom the minister met in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, is scheduled to undergo another surgery to remove the tubes that were placed in him.
The company will also be providing assistance to the families, apart from the regular insurance coverage.
Minister Persaud also visited the families of driver of the pick-up, 43-year old Michael Williams, mechanic 62-year old Trenton Garner, and 20-year old Kester Grant, when he assured them that the company will fulfill its obligations to them.
He also urged that the company provide counselling for the driver of the heavy-duty truck, and if possible, witnesses.
When asked by the minister what occurred on that fateful day, the company’s OH&S co-ordinator, Raymond Sankar, explained that, based on investigations, the driver of the pick-up was in the process of undertaking the hauler truck. He said that the pick-up was crushed after it slid under the truck, which drove over it as they traversed the company’s internal road at the mine site.
Sankar said that the procedure is that pick-ups should give way to hauler trucks.
Following the accident, the company had put a halt to its operations.
“A tragedy such as this does require us to ensure that we heal the situation at hand, but also to proceed with production and satisfy markets,” Minister Persaud said.
Minister Persaud added that the ministry has been working with the company to ensure that they meet their target.
He further stated that bauxite production has been decreasing across the country, and the ministry has been working to ensure that the rate of output “kicks in” in the second half of this year. The target, he said, is to have 500,000 tonnes and the company is hoping to reach close to that target. (GINA)
