VINLEC’s Environmental Health and Safety Awareness Month launched

The St Vincent and the Grenadines Electricity Services Ltd. (VINLEC), will bring attention to environmental health and safety issues during the month of May. The Company held a ceremony at its Cane Hall location on Wednesday, May 2, 2018 to launch its month of activities under the theme “Safety Ties Us Together.”

Speaking at the ceremony, the company’s Environment Health and Safety Officer Anthony Patterson, encouraged workers to do their best and to practice safety habits individually in their respective posts, because when combined, individual efforts help to build an overall safety culture.

The acting CEO of VINLEC Dr Vaugh Lewis reiterated this call for all employees to do their part. Using a generator as an analogy, Dr Lewis pointed out that all components must work well for the generator to function and so too must the technicians, linesmen and office workers, for the entire company to function safely and effectively.

Dr Lewis further encouraged the employees to embrace healthy lifestyles and to develop their spirituality, which he said are factors which can contribute to their overall wellbeing.

Chairman of the Board of VINLEC Rene Baptiste in her address advised the employees to always practice safety standards, noting that sometimes they lapse in wearing safety gear.

Baptiste also publicly thanked the employees for the daily risks they take in providing an invaluable service to Vincentians and also recognized those who have travelled to neighbouring storm-ravaged Caribbean Islands to help with restorative works.

Featured speaker at the ceremony Dr Del Hamilton of the Ministry of Health, spoke to the employees about non-communicable diseases, which are said to be the main causes of death in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

Dr Hamilton pointed out that the main risk factors are behavioural, like bad lifestyle choices, and advised the workers to take steps towards a healthy lifestyle. She advised them to use the Environmental Health and Safety Awareness month to do checks and screens to ensure that they are in good health and to become more active.The Reverend Father Kari Marcelle of the Anglican Diocese officiated over the proceedings.

Father Marcelle led devotion and delivered an inspirational message where he encouraged workers to give of their best, as they are ultimately doing it as unto God and not to man.Activities for the Environmental Health and Safety Month, which run from May 1 – 31, include wellness workshops, games and wellness walk, public speaking, song and poetry competitions.