radica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
One of the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) inspectors, involved in the probe of the LMCS divers tragedy has resigned.
The resignation was submitted late last week but a source said despite this, OSHA has a powerful team committed to investigating the accident at No.36 sealine, which left Fyzal Kurban, Rishi Nagassar, Yusuf Henry and Kazim Ali Jr dead.
The resignation, Guardian Media was told, was not directly linked to the controversy regarding the diving tragedy.
The inspector was one of five Inspector Ones who have been probing the accident. These inspectors report to an Inspector 2, who then reports to a Senior Inspector who answers to the Chief Inspector, who then reports to the Ministry of Labour.
Speaking to Guardian Media yesterday, former OSH inspector Saffraz Ali said he too had heard of the resignation. He said he was not surprised that the inspector had resigned, noting that inspectors were overworked and demotivated.
“The OSH Agency is severely depleted in terms of the number of Inspector Ones. There are a number of vacancies to be filled and the inspectors are feeling the brunt of covering the entire T&T.
“I am aware that the inspectors took the OSH Agency to the Industrial Court last July for non-payment of gratuity and dissatisfaction with the terms and conditions of their existing contracts,” Ali said.
He explained, “When their three-year contracts ended, they were put on a month-to-month contract. This is not a good arrangement. You cannot have a month-to-month arrangement hanging around their neck. The ILO says an OSH inspector must be given security of tenure.”
He added, “I have full confidence in the inspectors who are investigating the diving fatalities. I understand one had resigned very recently and it comes back to why the inspectors are leaving the agency. There is a high attrition rate and there needs to be a closer look at what is happening at the OSHA.
“The inspectors have no benefits, no sick leave, no casual, no gratuity, no vacation and this goes against the very core of what the Ministry of Labour stands for.
“Their pay comes in late sometimes a week into the new month. When an inspector has all these issues to face, it can take away from the effectiveness of their job on the field. They should have better working conditions because they are literally saving lives.”
OSHA’s communications and outreach manager Kendall Reid was contacted and promised to issue a statement on questions posed about manpower issues at the Agency shortly.
In an earlier interview, Reid said OSHA is a law enforcement body whose role is defined by the OSH Act. He said OSHA acts as an information and advisory service. It also conducts inspections, investigations and enforcement activities as well as prosecution.
Reid noted that “OSHA continually invests the resources that are made available to it to execute its operations.
Separate investigations are ongoing by the police and OSHA. A Commission of Enquiry is also expected to be held.
