00:00In October 2023, 39-year-old WASA employee Kun Etienne died on the job after a mound
00:06of dirt collapsed on him while he was standing in a trench.
00:09An investigation into the incident identified six breaches of the Occupational Safety and
00:14Health Act.
00:15Opposition Senator Wade Marks sought answers from Minister of Public Utilities Marvin Gonzalez
00:21in the Senate on what OSH procedures were implemented since then.
00:25Gonzalez said a review of WASA's excavation practices was done in collaboration with the
00:30National Gas Company, identifying a need for several changes, including having competent
00:35people for inspection in keeping with policy and law.
00:39Ensuring that all excavations for plant jobs are properly designed and a competent person
00:44designated.
00:46This will ensure that once works are being performed, the crew is fully aware of the
00:52required techniques to be employed for safeguarding the trench wall and who is the assigned person
00:59designated as a competent person.
01:02Ensuring that all crews involved in excavation works undergo basic safety awareness training
01:07on excavation safety, trenching SOPs and SGA for pipeline work.
01:14Other recommendations include the use of lightweight aluminum sheets in place of steel boxes for
01:19shoring during excavation, as this is easily assembled and workable in most trenches.
01:25Finally, having a rescue team readily available during excavation works, the Authority has
01:31started sourcing spinal boards for safe extraction of injured persons, as well as identify local
01:38trainers who can provide the necessary specialist training for selected employees that can perform
01:45rescue operations and compulsory training and certification for all persons in charge
01:50of work requiring excavation and pipeline repair installation.
01:54It was also recommended that excavation safety be part of the job assessment.
01:59Gonzalez was questioned by Senator Mark on whether the measures have been implemented.
02:03Or are they still being implemented as we proceed?
02:08Can you clarify?
02:09Thank you very much Mr. President, I'll pass to the Senator for that question.
02:13I want to assure the Senator that this has been a work in progress because it entails
02:21reconfiguring internal safety procedures, engaging in the necessary training, etc.
02:28But insofar as it relates to all of the items that I've just mentioned, I can give you the
02:33assurance that with respect to employees as well as contractors of the Authority, those
02:38procedures are being implemented as we speak.
02:42The Minister indicated that contractors of WASA have also been engaged to ensure that
02:46they comply with the new safety requirements.
02:49And if those contractors do not comply with these safety procedures, the Authority will
02:55take the appropriate action to shut down the worksite until these procedures are fully
03:00adhered to.
03:01Gonzalez said he has witnessed compliance on job sites by both employees and the contractors.
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