Elias shocked by disaster

“I am at a complete loss as to why this happened,” was the response of Emile Elias, executive chairman, for NH International Caribbean Ltd about the accident which took place at the Customs and Excise site where the scaffolding gave way and injured 20 workers.

In an interview, Elias said it was the first time in more than 41 years anything like that had happened at an NH International work site. He said from the top of the scaffolding to the ground was about ten stories (approximately 130 ft) but not all workers were at the top. “They were working at various levels. Some were at the lower levels.”

He said an investigation is being conducted and NH “was not ruling out anything.”

Elias said a specialist scaffolding system was being used which is imported from the UK and a specialist in TT designed and erected the system. He said the “quickstage” scaffolding system which is made of steel has been working and there is another system erected “in the same way” at another part of the building. Highlighting the safety precautions at the site, he said the site has safety procedures, safety manual and a safety manager. Elias said safety inspections are done every day.

Elias said the NH engineer was working with the client “all day” yesterday to find out what happened. He said the investigation will last a few days.

Responding to concerns that the scaffolding was not properly secured, Elias said, every two columns of the scaffolding was tied to the building. Asked if rainfall could have impacted on scaffolding being secure, he said rainfall should not have had any impact. “The scaffolding was sitting on a concrete base. It should not have happened.”

He said all workers had to wear safety harnesses and these were “fixed to the scaffolding.” Elias said, “it prevented many people from being seriously injured.”

Elias visited the injured workers at the Accident and Emergency and wards at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. He said 20 workers were injured, two of them were serious.

He said the injured workers were covered by “various levels of insurance” as required by the contract. Elias said his first concern was that the workers got appropriate care for their injuries.

He said the safety measures implemented by NH had nothing to do with the Occupational Safety and Health Act and NH was “ahead” of OSHA. He said safety was part of the company’s contract for the project.