About the Environmental Health and Safety Unit (EHSU)

The EHSU was preceded by the Environmental Unit (EU) which was established in 1996. The EU’s mandate was essentially to manage the environmental portfolio of the Ministry’s National Highway Programme and to expand this responsibility across to other Ministry Divisions and Units. From its inception, the EU had actively pursued the integration of health, safety and environmental (HSE) considerations in the Ministry’s operations.
With the enactment of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OSHA) 2004, as amended, the EU was transformed to the Environmental Health and Safety Unit (EHSU) Unit in August 2009.

Responsibilities of the EHSU

Reviews projects to ensure no degradation to the environment in accordance with EMA (Environmental Management Authority) regulations

Facilitate CEC (Certificate of Environmental Clearance) process

Facilitate EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) when necessary

Environmental Monitoring 

Ensure (so far as reasonably practicable) the safety, health and welfare at work of all Ministry of Works and Infrastructure (MOWI) employees and its contractors.

Ensures that the necessary steps are taken to guarantee the safety and health of the public, in the vicinity of Ministry of Works and Infrastructure (MOWI) offices and work sites.

Makes representation on Committees for multilateral environment agreements

To provide advice to the Permanent Secretary and Honourable Minister on matters pertaining to EHS (Environment, Health, and Safety).

The collaboration with other line Divisions with respect to Disaster Preparedness and Management.

To assist the Permanent Secretary with matters pertaining to Disaster Preparedness and Management

To liaise with local, regional and international stakeholders/organizations to promote EHS practices in the MOWI.

The provision of inputs into the optimum design of projects for an environmental, health and safety perspective.

To prepare Terms of Reference (TOR) for the procurement of EHS Consultants.

The supervision and review of EIAs and Risk Assessments.

The audit of projects, properties and activities of the MOWI from an environmental, health and safety perspective, ensuring compliance with MOWI and other statutory requirements.

The oversight of the formulation and implementation of training programmes on Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) for the staff of the MOWI.

To raise awareness of HSE issues within the MOWI and to foster a positive HSE culture amongst all employees in the MOWI.

Provision of inputs into land-related matters for MOWI projects and activities, including the identification of available and approvable sites and liaison with, among others, the TCPD, the Lands and Surveys Division and the Office of the Commissioner of State Lands.

Sub-Units of the EHSU

The operations of the EHSU are essentially organized under sub-units as follows:
Environmental management
Health & Safety management
Internal Accounting and Administrative Services

Contact the EHSU

The Director, Environmental Health and Safety Unit
Ministry of Works and Infrastructure Head Office, Level 1
Corner Richmond and London Streets, Port of Spain
Phone/ Fax: 625-1310; 627-7754