The Department of Labour has been investigating the recent accident at the work site at Camp and Robb streets and management has been alerted about violations that were uncovered.
A crane at the construction site collapsed while lifting a log on October 25, sending workers scrambling for safety.
Junior Social Protection Minister Simona Broomes told Stabroek News yesterday that after reading about the accident in the newspaper, she visited the worksite and asked workers about the accident. The minister said no report about the accident was made to the ministry. However, during her visit to the site, workers admitted that there was an accident but added that no one was injured.
She added that violations which were found and listed in a letter subsequently sent to management of the site included the absence of records for wages and annual leave as well as a lack of safety and first aid provisions for workers.
The minister said also that there was no record of NIS and PAYE contributions.
Broomes said that in the event of an accident, employers are given a four days to report it to the department. If there is a fatality, she added, employers are required to report the accident within one day. The minister added that if employers do not comply with those regulations, they can be charged.
The structure being erected at the site is to be an addition to the Teleperformance call centre located opposite, according to Rizwan Khan, owner of the Teleperformance building and Discount Store on Regent Street. Khan has said the structure is expected to be completed by next year end.
