The Ministries of Health and Works and Engineering have refused to publicly rebut accusations that Government consistently flouts health and safety regulations because of the poor upkeep of its buildings.

A senior figure at the Department of Health and Safety told on Monday that Government was the worst transgressor of the Health and Safety Act of any employer in Bermuda ? while labelling the overall approach to the topic across the civil service as "dangerous and pathetic".

Numerous problems with its buildings, including roof leaks, mould and termite infestations are often not dealt with for months or even years because of poor management and a lack of man-power, the source claimed ? all of which adds significantly to the cost of repair and forces some civil servants to work in potentially hazardous environments.

Permanent Secretary for Health Kevin Monkman said yesterday he was not prepared to comment at any length, saying only that he has always taken the issue of health and safety "very seriously".

Requests to talk to Health Minister Patrice Minors were not fulfilled while the Permanent Secretary for Works and Engineering Russell Wade referred all queries to the Department of Information.

Further calls to that Department were not returned by Press time, however.

But a former Works and Engineering employee speaking on the condition of anonymity ? who fully agrees with the arguments of the Department of Health and Safety source ? said he was "not at all surprised" by the deafening silence from Government.

"The fact is that the approach to health and safety within Government as a whole is disorganised and apathetic," the source said.

"To be honest, I was expecting them to say very little because they know they have been found out. Repairs on buildings are rarely carried out in a timely fashion and there are countless examples of buildings being allowed to slip into disrepair because of this."

Meanwhile, Bermuda Public Services Union president Ed Ball, whose membership boasts the vast majority of civil servants, urged them not to remain silent if they feel their working conditions are unsatisfactory.

"Civil servants tend to be quite a passive, obedient group," he said.

"But I would say to them now to take a look around them and decide whether the conditions under which they are working comply with health and safety regulations. If not, take the appropriate action because these situations have to be dealt with quickly. But the broader question is why Government is not properly enforcing the [Health and Safety Act?"