AT LEAST NINE employees of the Probyn Street, Bridgetown branch of the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) returned home yesterday morning after complaining of feeling ill.
After meeting with BWA officials, assistant general secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), Orlando “Gabby” Scott, said the union received a call from its representative at the BWA that there was a problem “going on now for six weeks” causing several workers to go home with upper respiratory tract problems and tightness in the chest.
Scott said while the landlord “has been doing investigations” the union recommended that the BWA utilize the services of the Environmental Protection Department and the Ministry of Labour to carry out a scientific test on the air quality in the building.
“The whole question of indoor air quality has been a problem that has come [up] in a number of workplaces in Barbados, particularly offices.
“I don’t want to mention any of the companies at which we have had the problem, but it is a problem. I think the lack of proper maintenance has been a problem.
“But I think that if you really expend some money and time on maintenance programmes, this would reduce a lot of the problems we have had.
“I am not saying all, but some of the companies have not been doing maintenance. It is just like your body; you have to eat properly and do exercises or else you will break down.
”Scott called for the Health And Safety At Work Act which was passed in the House of Assembly in 2005 to be proclaimed.
“I know that Government is now doing an audit in some of the Government buildings, but I want to see proper maintenance.”
BWA general manager Denis Yearwood said he had no comment but the matter was being investigated.