700 SSA workers attend Crop Over picnic at Three Houses Park

The Manager of the Sanitation Service Authority acknowledged the hard work so far this Crop Over put in by SSA employees with a picnic held at Three Houses Park in St Philip – workers enjoyed themselves and believe the event should become an annual occasion.

A deejay with a powerful Hi-Fi had the crowd bobbing with all the latest tunes of the season as well as those from back in the day.

Workers with their families made for 700 people enjoying the festivities.

The SSA’s Manager, Stanton Alleyne, personally spoke with staff to let them know how much they’re appreciated.

It took a mighty rain in the late afternoon to finally thin the crowd, which eventually started drifting home around six in the evening.

The partygoers then made sure all remnants of the day were carefully disposed of as they continue to keep Barbados clean.

Sanitation & ICBL host refresher on defensive driving for staff members

The Sanitation Service Authority recently held two seminars for drivers and lorryloaders on how best to take care of the Authority’s new vehicles – this session serving as a follow-up to a similar workshop 18 months ago.

St Sgt Rodney Inniss, Forensic Collision Investigator with the Royal Barbados Police Force, conducted a fascinating presentation on defensive driving with a contingent of SSA staff at the ICBL’s Country Road headquarters. This officer has held similar courses for Rayside Construction, CO Williams Companies, as well as BS & T and other businesses with vehicular fleets.

The Station Sergeant had a detailed presentation touching on many subjects and the audience was very receptive to the officer’s innovative approach. The investigator urged them to plan their routes carefully and to heed all traffic signs, rules and regulations.

The SSA’s Manager, Stanton Alleyne praised staff for their support during the challenging period of June 23 to June 27, he also reminded them of a TV campaign designed to encourage Barbadians to respect SSA workers more and employ best waste practices at all times. 

Michael Nicholls, Deputy Manager of Operations, in his segment urged crews to be aware that noises carry in early hours and while on such a shift it may be better to use a type of code or signal rather than shout instructions to each other. He also praised staff members for remembering to replace lids on bins which were emptied.

SSA Transport Superintendent, Mr. Elvin Chase, also spoke with workers on the proper procedures and techniques of preventative maintenance with all vehicles before and after starting a shift on the road.

SSA clean up of Drax Hall concludes – 50 tonnes removed!

The Sanitation Service Authority successfully removed 14 truckloads of bulky waste from Bydes Mill, Drax Hall Woods, Drax Hall Jump and Drax Hall.

Sanitation sent 50 tonnes of bulky waste for processing; both ten-wheeler trucks and small open-backed lorries were used to complete the work.

SSA Superintendent of the South Terence Mitchell, SSA Plant Superintendent Derek Brereton coordinated with Basil Pilgrim, Senior Environmental Health Officer to direct teams removing bundles of wood, sheets of galvanise, old refrigerators in addition to stoves as well as other bulky items.

The bulky waste removal is part of the SSA’s ongoing programme to encourage everyone to keep Barbados clean all the time.

Sanitation conducts seminar with Eden Lodge Day Nursery students

The Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) was recently invited to the Eden Lodge Day Nursery to teach their infants how to be cleaner at all times.

Lorryloader Hyacinth Rodgers told the class you have to be very careful with broken glass and told the little ones that glass must be wrapped in newspaper before bagging it for collection.

The pupils also learned that all refuse must go in a bin and placed in that bin on the night before collection, they also discovered how containers should be rinsed before placing in a bag and any cartons should be flattened when disposed.

Driver Darnley Callender showed the children a hands-on experience of sitting at the steering wheel and letting them pull the loud air-horn.

The youngsters especially loved the chance to sit inside the vehicle in addition to actually seeing how a compactor works.

The SSA is also inviting all primary schools and nurseries to call us for similar talks each Wednesday on what is best for the environment, and the SSA will organise accordingly.

Swift action from SSA lorryloader helps Ruby Park couple to minimise fire damage

David and Heather Ince will never forget Sanitation worker John Broome; he prevented their Ruby Park home and contents being lost to fire, thanks to the quick thinking of Mr Broome while collecting refuse in the St Philip district.

John Broome, who’s worked in Ruby Park with his crew for the last 12 years, explained how he saw smoke at this house and he stopped the truck to investigate, he then knocked and shouted all around the home to see if anyone was inside – after no response, he asked a gardener next door if he could borrow a hose.

The brave lorryloader took off his headscarf and doused it with water and tied it around his face, then got into the house by pushing out the metal jalousies of the kitchen window and he proceeded to wet down the oven and microwave as the smoke was coming from this area. By the time the Fire Department arrived the smoke was abated.

When Mr Ince returned 45 minutes later, he learned only a bathroom door was charred along with some clothes – he commented how lucky they were as they just finished paying their property insurance.

Mrs Ince was relieved to learn their home’s structural integrity remained intact and the majority of its contents were untouched.

Mr Broome then continued the rest of his collections for that day, later on; neighbours at Ruby Park told Mr Ince that it was thanks to the speedy response of SSA lorryloader John Broome who rescued his home from a serious disaster.

Mr Ince called the SSA to get the name of the persons who saved his property, and he learned it was John Broome who used his initiative. The Inces asked to meet Mr Broome, to thank him profusely.

This morning they met at the SSA’s Wildey Depot, Mr and Mrs Ince said they could never forget his kind deed and thanked him once again and will stay in touch with the brave man.

Mr Broome, who’s a National Dominoes player for the SSA, says he is always happy to do a good deed, as he knows would expect the same vigilance from his neighbours if his place were in danger.

SSA Management is proud of Mr Broome’s quick actions.