BWU awaits probe into fatal quarry accident that killed worker

The Barbados Workers Union (BWU) said on Friday it was awaiting the outcome of an official investigation into a fatal workplace incident at the ReadyMix Lears quarry, while workers continue to receive counselling and support.

The incident occurred last week, when several workers were setting up a piece of equipment which subsequently collapsed on four of them, killing one instantly.

BWU senior industrial relations officer Janelle Farley told Barbados TODAY: “On the day in question, what we did is we went to the location, we spoke to the workers who were on hand, you know, sought to find out how they were feeling, etcetera, and then the next day we went back to the company while the company was having a general staff meeting with the with the workers and the management would have expanded on what their intention was in terms of handling the matter.”

The investigation is now in the hands of the Labour Department and the police.

Farley said: “I believe that investigation will take a while and then the recommendations would come out. So when those recommendations come back from the Labor Department. We should be involved in that process, but as it stands, we have to wait and see what the competent authority says to the company.”

Workers affected by the incident are being provided with assistance and counselling support, she said.

“The company is treating the workers that [were] injured and has treated the staff who were impacted in terms of getting them counseling and so forth. Anyone that needed counseling, they provided it and they mentioned that they would take care of the worker and the family of the workers that were injured, and that is what we gleaned from the meeting that we attended at the company the day after the incident.”

Farley gave the update during a BWU occupational health and safety conference, at which BWU general secretary Toni Moore extended condolences to the affected family and workforce.

She said: “We commiserate with the family of the deceased and those injured and of course the work community as well, who would have experienced a worker who’s with you one minute and then a number of people trying to resuscitate him until he succumbed, and then others who have been injured there and their families and the entire work space will feel it.”

 

(LG)