Operations at the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) garage in San Fernando were shut down yesterday after a worker was injured after he was struck by a bus on the compound.
The worker, a labourer/cleaner, is believed to have suffered a broken leg and is warded at the San Fernando General Hospital.
A representative of the Transport Industrial Workers Union (TIWU), said between 8 am and 8.30 am an electrician was working on the bus because it could not start. The worker, who was injured, was working in front the bus.
He said, "Those buses supposed to have a safety device so it should not start even if it is in a gear. The electrician started the bus and it started to move forward on its own. The electrician tried to alert the guy in front the bus but it had already reach up to him. The electrician jumped into the bus and tried to stop it, but the brakes were not working so he put it in reverse."
He said the bus ended up hitting two other buses. The worker was jammed against a wall by the bus. "He was in plenty pain. No one could move him," he said.
An ambulance subsequently took the injured worker to the hospital.
Complaining about several long-standing health and safety issues at the compound, the union member said, "We (union) went to the garage and we decided to shut down the garage. The workers will not be working until the health and safety issues are addressed." He said this action will have no impact on the travelling public.
Anita Bandoo, PTSC's administrative assistant in the marketing and communications department, said she was not allowed to communicate with the media about the incident and referred all questions to the general manager.