April 12, 2013

Dear Sir,

It is quite concerning, the level of Health and Safety in the construction industry! After recently returning to the Island I have seen fundamental flaws in our H&S laws. First of all, after the recent death of Millard Bean at his place of work, there has been no coverage on what the consequences are to his employer Island Construction or if his family have received payment for the loss of a bread winner. I am concerned that if this is not taken seriously how can we change the industry. Why hasn’t the Construction Association been in the press demanding an answer for the accident and compensation to the family for this loss. This has to cease to insure that the industry survives in the future.

Lastly has there been any resolution to the collapsed wall at Dellwood School? On the news the city engineer stated that the Corporation of Hamilton were lucky that school was out at the time of collapse. Please let me remind the public that the industry does not go on luck, it goes on risk management! To me that was a near miss and the Corporation has to investigate works on all such walls with a view to public safety. Bermuda is too small and not ready to be accept the deaths of innocent children being crushed to death because the industry was unlucky!

English