State-owned Petrotrin says contractors and sub-contractors are responsible for their workers’ safety. The company was responding to accusations by the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) that its unsafe work practice is to be blamed for the death of contract worker Avitar Ramkhalawan, 23. The father of two died during an work-related accident at Petrotrin Forest Reserve in Fyzabad on Tuesday. Petrotrin workers in that area downed tools for about two hours on Thursday morning in protest against Ramkhalawan’s death.
In an interview with the T&T Guardian, Errol A McLeod, OWTU’s senior labour relations officer, said, “The workers at Forest Reserve Exploration and Production Department and fields have decided they had enough in terms of the way in which this management of Petrotrin is treating with health and safety matters in our company. “They are definitely delinquent as far as safety is concerned. They are telling the country one thing and doing something else when coming to safety in our company.”
He said the blood of Ramkhalawan was on the hands of Petrotrin’s management. He accused management of leasing out and farming out Petrotrin. “They selling it out piece by piece and contracting it out piece by piece. That is why that young man died, the field right now is a mess.” He said the union had information that safety procedures were not adhered to on the day Ramkhalawan died.
He said when such jobs are being done by contractors a Petrotrin crew was required to supervise the workers, but there was no crew on that day. He also complained about poor security, saying calls for a Petrotrin police post in the fields had fallen on deaf ears.
Petrotrin has denied that the company is undertaking unsafe work practices. “We continue to follow our integrated Health Safety and Environment (HSE) management systems. We hold our contractors and sub-contractors to these standards when executing projects in our operations on behalf of the organisation.” Asked if Petrotrin failed to follow procedure by providing a Petrotrin crew on the day Ramkhalawan’s died, the company stated: “No. Petrotrin provides routine supervision for all projects conducted by registered independent contractors.”
The company said its president Khalid Hassanali met with the bereaved family on Thursday and investigations into the incident are continuing. Asked if Petrotrin will be financially assisting Ramkhalawan’s family, the company stated: “We understand that his employer has agreed to bear such expenses. However, counselling services from Petrotrin Employee Assistance Programme has been extended to the Ramkhalawan family.” When contacted contractor Premchan Lalchan confirmed that he will be financially assisting Ramkhalawan’s family.