CARILEC hosts virtual occupational health and safety seminar

St. Vincent Electricity Services Limited (VINLEC) was represented at the inaugural virtual Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Seminar hosted by the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC), in collaboration with the St. Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC). CARILEC says the organisation recognised the need to revamp and restructure its events to merge into the virtual realm, given the restrictions on air travel and social gatherings propelled by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

VINLEC was represented by Anthony Patterson, Environmental Health and Safety Officer, Sheynique Sam, Technical Assistant – Environmental Health and Safety, Jeremiah Simon, Lineman 3 and Carlson Hannaway, Lineman in Training.

VINLEC’s EHSO, Anthony Patterson made a presentation titled “Indoor Air Quality (IAQ): Utilising Standards Approach.”

Patterson says that IAQ was addressed as it is often times an underestimated source of workplace hazards due to the invisible nature. He says greater awareness of existing standards is needed and that he hopes the presentation will give insight to the hazard such that appropriate action can be taken, where necessary. On previous occasions, VINLEC addressed Indoor Air Quality through workshops and other avenues as part of its Health and Safety programme.

Some of the other topics discussed were the Imperatives of Psychological Health and Safety, Zero Accidents Achieving a New Safety Culture, Re-engineering OHS Culture and Sustaining Safety Culture through an integrated EHS/Asset Management System. The COVID-19 pandemic was also examined because it has impacted utilities across the region and has caused them to review and upgrade health and safety protocols. The specific topic addressed was Vaccine and Masks Awareness: Concerns for the Energy Community.

The two-day event, which took place on March 1 and 2, also highlighted the celebration of LUCELEC’s twenty-fifth anniversary of Health and Safety. The seminar was held under the theme ‘Safety Leadership = Safety Culture”.