Lambert slams ‘nonsensical’ statement from Energy Chamber

The chamber said such action is damaging to safety culture and undermines the entire safety management in the sector.

However, Lambert said he was not aware that any trade union has been using the issue of safety excessively for the purpose of collective bargaining.

He said hearing such a comment from a responsible entity was “The most nonsensical statement I have heard.” He said the trade unions would use the provisions of the law and the proposals of their collective agreement.

He said not all trade unions are involved in the energy sector but the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act was for everyone and wherever there are workers, there are problems relating to health and safety.

In its statement, the chamber said in the energy sector where risks are high, safety is a top priority.

“A strong safety culture is vital for the continued success and competitiveness of the Trinidad and Tobago energy sector,” the chamber said.

“Every individual working on any energy sector facility has a duty to stop work in any situation that will put themselves or others in harm’s way.” Lambert said his union particularly does not use health and safety as a tool for the purpose of negotiation.

“So whichever entity or institution has made that, it is very unfortunate and I think the whole statement is nonsensical.” The chamber said adherence to worldclass safety management systems played an extremely important role in the ability of TOFCO to deliver the Juniper topside on schedule with high quality work.

“TOFCO achieved over two million man hours without a lost time incident on the Juniper construction project: this is excellent safety performance.” It added, “Allegations of poor safety management both damage the reputation of the company and the local industry and are not supported by the facts.

The protests that shut down the Juniper project and caused delays were about jobs and a few individuals trying to seek direct personal benefits. Safety was used as an excuse for illegal strike action.” The chamber said the right to refuse work enshrined in the OSH Act is very specific and there are explicit procedures in the law that need to be followed, but the right to refuse work is not in the legislation to provide a cover for illegal strikes over pay.

It said misusing this important provision in the law undermines safety.