THE National Workers Union (NWU) says a report into the circumstances surrounding Saturday’s death of three contract workers at the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) power plant in Old Harbour, St Catherine, should be ready within two weeks’ time.

“Investigations will continue in an open and transparent manner to ensure no repetition of this unfortunate accident.,” said Vincent Morrison, island supervisor of the NWU, the union which represents JPS workers.

“We are satisfied so far that the company has been moving with alacrity in terms of dealing with the matter, not only in the situation as it affects the families of the deceased and the survivors, but to ensure that health and safety practices in the company are put in a greater focus to ensure that we do not have a repetition of what we had last Saturday,” Morrison told the Observer last night.

Last Saturday, Arthur Williams, 70; Woodford Brown, 35; and Owen Townsend, 41 were overcome by fumes and died while working on a section of the JPS plant that pulls water from the sea for cooling the generating unit. Two other workers were treated and released from the hospital.

Morrison, who met with the light and power company yesterday, said JPS has also promised to see to the financial security of the families of the deceased, which will more than likely include assistance with the cost of the funerals. He also noted that the company has put in place counselling services for the employees, the families of the deceased and the other workers who were affected in the incident.

“The survivors will be given the best medical health care to restore full health,” Morrison said.

Additionally, he said more attention would be placed on programmes and practices within the company, especially at the power stations as it relates to safety and health.

The Occupational Safety and Health Department at the Ministry of Labour began a probe into the incident on Sunday, while investigations were also being carried out by the St Catherine Health Department.

Robert Chung, deputy director in the Occupational Safety and Health Department, said the labour ministry has a procedural document, as it pertains to entering confined spaces that should be followed. However, he said that it was too soon into the investigations to determine this factor.

“The document tells you the procedures that should be followed before a person enters a confined space, such as checking the oxygen content beforehand,” he said. “There is also an occupational safety and health programme which speaks to a process by which persons are trained before they enter into confined spaces,” he added.

“When the investigations are completed then we will be able to determine whether it was an accident or whether or not the area was tested,” said Chung.

The JPS, which brought in experts to the island on Sunday from its parent Company Mirant Corporation to conduct its own investigation, said yesterday it could not provide information about the investigations until it has been completed.