Fumes chase 100 workers from offshore platform

Some six weeks after an explosion at a Trinmar offshore platform claimed the life of a contract worker, over 100 workers were forced to evacuate another offshore platform owned by the State-owned marine exploration company after being overcome by gas fumes Tuesday night. According to reports, the incident took place at Trinmar’s Soldado platform and the affected workers were taken to a Petrotrin medical facility. However, from as early as 6 am yesterday morning, dissatisfied employees downed tools saying they would not return to the job site until the company assured workers of their personal safety. Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) Trinmar branch president, Ancil Roget, said workers were being sent “in batches” to the medical facility “to be examined and for further treatment if necessary.” “In addition, we want to call on all employees who would have been in the environment to be properly examined,” he said. “Further, we would want to ensure that the whole offshore area is safe before we allow workers to go back. Bear in mind that exposure could result in serious injuries,” Roget added.

He observed that a number of contract workers had also been exposed to the gas fumes and called on the company to ensure those workers were also “medically examined and treated if necessary.” “We are saying, one single employee to be affected is one too many and we feel it is time for management to take control of the situation,” he said. Roget also noted workers were not pleased with a company’s decision to close down a terminal in Point Fortin. He said the decision, which had been made without consultation with the union,  would see more than 30 workers filling a number of vacancies at the Point Fortin-based company. “They are attempting to send some 30 plus employees across to Trinmar into a number of vacant areas that were identified for our casual/temporary category and who would have been working there for quite a while and therefore had expectations of filling those vacancies,” he said. Petrotrin officials said a comprehensive statement on the incident would have been issued during the course of yesterday.