Hazardous waste was being removed from the wards at the San Fernando General Hospital yesterday afternoon as protesting daily paid workers compromised to clean the hospital with disposable suits.
However, bags of bio-hazardous waste continued to pile up at the incinerator as daily paid workers remained vigilant that they would only use the equipment when fire proof coveralls were issued.
Since Monday the workers have refused to work until personal protective equipment (PPE) and uniforms were issued by the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA). The workers and the authority agreed on Tuesday for hospital administrators to start distributing gears yesterday.
National Union for Government and Federated Workers (NUGFW) branch president Roger Roach said yesterday hospital administrators gave out 48 pair of rubber and steel toe boots to the grounds and environment workers yesterday. He added: “They have already started to distribute the rubber boots and steel toe boots to the grounds and environment department.
“Mr Anil Gosine (SWRHA’s CEO) contacted me this morning, via phone, and asked us to assist them in bringing down the garbage from the wards and start up the new incinerator.
“He had asked if workers got disposable coveralls, if they would bring down the garbage from the wards?
“Workers got the disposable suits around 12 noon and work started around 12.30 pm and by 3.30 pm, we have already cleared the old hospital.
“We are supposed to get assistance from the city corporation to remove regular garbage to the dump.
“We were told that starting early tomorrow morning, Ms (Anita) Lakhan and Mr (Dianand) Ganessingh will be here to start distributing shirts, pants and coveralls to workers.
“Both morning and evening shifts will be working together so we can assure the public that clean-up and sanitising will be started in the morning,” Roach added.