Inadequate air space was responsible for the mass fainting at Qualfon’s Goedverwagting call centre on May 20, 2014 after power failed and automatic generators on site malfunctioned, Minister of Labour Nanda Gopaul confirmed on Wednesday.
Qualfon is currently constructing what appears to be a verandah at the call centre.
According to Gopaul, the lack of adequate air space caused the fainting of more than 18 workers who did not evacuate the building in a timely manner after the automatic generator on site failed to kick in. When contacted for a comment on the report of an investigation into the incident, a Qualfon official invited this newspaper for a tour of the premises next week. Moreover, the company did not respond to enquiries about the construction of what appears to be a verandah.
On May 20, last year, 30 minutes after the 4 pm shift had begun, power failed and the call centre’s back-up power supply failed to start.
Chaos ensued in which some of the employees were screaming and panting for breath, while others were writhing on the floor. More than 18 workers were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital and were treated and sent away.
The hospital had diagnosed the workers’ fainting spells as being due to a lack of sufficient oxygen when the mechanical ventilation system and the back-up power source failed.
The Guyana Fire Service had stated that the workers were affected because evacuation was not effected in a timely manner.
