Process Plant Operators (PPO) at the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) will not be facing any disciplinary action and all working arrangements are to be normalised with immediate effect.
This was the agreement reached during continued crisis talks by the State-owned company and the representing union, the Public Services Association (PSA), on Thursday night.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was also signed by five representatives of each of the two parties, including WASA's chief executive officer Alan Poon-King and PSA's president Watson Duke. The document promises that 14 issues will be addressed soon, including the procurement of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) kits within eight weeks.
An agreement was also reached for all fit testing/training for PPOs in the north, south and Tobago to be conducted within two weeks from September 22. Also, a crew of trained and fit-tested personnel is to be established to conduct chlorine operations pending the completion of fit testing/training for PPOs.
Every chlorine room is to be reviewed to ensure that it is consistent with industry standards within three months and based on the outcomes of the review, redesign will commence.
Chlorine detection alarms and extractor fans are also to be installed at these installations within three weeks.
An audit, effective September 22, of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is expected to be completed within a week. PPE will be replaced/provided where required. The PPE comprises form-fitting gloves, full-face respirators, long-sleeved coveralls, steel-tipped boots and helmets.
With respect to security issues, it was agreed that a complete risk assessment of all plants, wells and intakes be conducted by the Security Department for the purpose of determining estate constable staffing requirements at various plants and a report will be provided within one week.
According to the MOU, the needs identified by this risk assessment will be implemented one week after September 29, that is, October 6. In the interim, Mobile Response Units attached to satellite centres shall be established to provide immediate security needs for the PPOs as well as "off" site facilities.
With respect to communication issues, telephone lines at the Las Lomas and Hollis Water Treatment Plant will be reinstated immediately. A radio will also be installed at the Matura Station to provide communication. At the Matura, Clarke Road and La Fortune installations, where a container exists, offices shall be built to accommodate the PPOs at these areas within four months.
On Wednesday night at about 9.30 pm, 75 per cent of WASA's treatment plants and wells were shut down. WASA workers then made their way to WASA's Public Education Centre building at Farm Road, St Joseph, where they met with Duke to discuss health and safety issues. They were later given a hearing by WASA's chairman Romney Thomas, chief executive officer Alan Poon-King, and other executives, including members of the Board of Directors.
Talks resumed during the day on Thursday, ending at 9.45 pm.