The Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training continues to work closely with environmental officers from the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Envirohealth company to carry out environmental testing at St Luke’s Brighton.
Teachers and staff complained about a foul odour which was causing their eyes and noses to burn, as well as headaches, bitterness in the mouth and itchy skin.
Upon visiting the school on October 2, officials from the Education Technical Management Unit (ETMU) found a grease trap which was flagged as the possible cause of the odour. That same evening, workers from Jose y Jose were called in to clean the grease trap and power wash the school yard.
The school remained closed the next day in order for the Envirohealth company to conduct further testing. The ministry said, between October 3 and 13, the grease trap outside the principal’s office was replaced and sealed by Greaves Wrought Iron Works.
On Monday, October 14, the principal reported some teachers complained of a sulphur-like odour, accompanied by the same symptoms expressed in the initial report.
Classes were suspended by 10:30 a.m. and officials from Envirohealth were called in once again to conduct further testing to detect the source of the odour and to perform air quality tests on the surroundings. The team from Greaves Wrought Iron Works were called in again to seal a manhole in the corner by the Nursery Class.
Similar complaints about an odour and physical discomfort continued on October 16, prompting a visit from the Building Maintenance Officer of ETMU and personnel from the Environmental Health Department the following day. On both occasions, odours were reported as undetectable.
On Friday, October 18, only six of the 12 teachers reported for duty, and two subsequently left after reporting for work. An Education Officer was deployed to assess the situation, but no odour was detected during the time he remained on compound.
The Deputy Chief Education Officer with responsibility for schools joined the principal on a tour of the plant, while an Environmental Health Inspector from the Ministry of Health also visited the school, however, no odour could be detected by any of the parties.
On October 21, the search for the source of the odour was expanded to include the Brighton and Edgecumbe plantations, and the management of both locations confirmed that there was no presence of cow-itch and no spraying of chemicals. (PR)
