After the recent ash fall from the eruption of the La Soufriere volcano in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, persons across Barbados are engaged in removing accumulated ash from roofs, gutters, windows, and exterior walls.
To aid in the clean-up exercises, the Ministry of Labour and Social Partnership Relations has prepared some frequently asked questions (FAQs) to address issues related to occupational safety and health (OSH).
These are available for download by clicking here or by visiting the website of the Ministry of Labour and Social Partnership Relations.
The document provides answers for those in search of appropriate approaches and techniques to deal with the cleanup, as well as their own health, and how they perform various tasks.
These include: “Should I attempt to clean up ash on my own?”; “How do I determine the method for clearing ash from around my home/other buildings?”; “Are there specific types of personal protective equipment that should be used to clean up ash?” and “What should be done when cleaning up ash using electrically powered equipment?”
Persons may seek further assistance from the OSH Section of the Labour Department, Ministry of Labour and Social Partnership Relations by emailing labour@labour.gov.bb or 535-1523/24 or 826-1513.