Leaked documents reveal that the issues and concerns of relocating the Public Health Unit and the Environmental Health Department to the Union Property Building, were vividly ventilated by both departments to the Office of the Deputy Governor.
The documents which were obtained by our newsroom revealed that a meeting was held on November 9, 2021, where details regarding the proposed relocation to the O’Neal Building were detailed.
Following the disclosure of those details, the reports indicate that a number of concerns were raised both in the meeting and in subsequent emails which were addressed to the Deputy Governor.
Some of the issues and concerns outlined included inadequate space, concerns of ventilation and air quality, confidentiality concerns, poorly designed stairs, poor public access, poor lighting in the stairwell, lack of parking space and poor kitchen and bathroom placement.
Inadequate space
In regards to the inadequate space concerns, the Public Health Unit expressed there was just not enough room within the proposed areas of the building to accommodate the continuously increasing staff of their department. At the time the issues were ventilated, the Unit had a staff size of 14 and were anticipating another 16 staff members that were expected to fill permanent and temporary positions.
The Unit expressed that in order for all their staff to fit in the proposed space, the tables of employees would have to be reduced to about 3-feet in length, which they say could barely hold a computer and a telephone comfortably. In addition, they feared such a small space would increase chances of spreading infectious diseases among workers.
The Environmental Health Department also shared similar concerns regarding the proposed space which they also deemed to be inadequate. Only 2 spaces within the building were initially proposed, which the department felt would not comfortably accommodate at least 16 staff members and the various training and workshop sessions.
Space not accessible for all
In addition to the inadequate space, the Public Health Unit felt that the space proposed on the third floor was also not accessible for all.
With no elevator in the three-floor building, the Unit said that persons with physical or medical conditions would experience difficulties when attempting to seek service. In addition, the Unit also reported that there are staff members with similar health and physical injuries that would be unable to access the higher level on a regular basis.
Ventilation and Air quality concerns
The issue of poor ventilation was also raised by the two departments. At the time they said that only 50 percent of the windows were able to be opened, and the dusty external atmosphere ruled out the likelihood of opening the windows which were functional.
In addition, it was said that the air quality within the building was “mouldy” and consisted of chemicals relating to cleaning solutions.
Confidentiality
The issue of confidentiality also raised major concerns due to the proposed open floor plan. It was feared that the rights of individuals seeking sensitive testing such as for sexually transmitted diseases, would have been infringed with intended layout.
Deputy Governor offered solutions
Following an assessment of the concerns raised by the two departments, the Deputy Governor offered what he termed to be solutions to the existing issues in a subsequent email.
These included making a request to create a revised layout plan to better organise seating for each department; offering to relocate departments on particular floors; and proposing to create one board room for both departments on the ground floor to accommodate meetings, workshops as well as to address confidentiality issues.
Request to be involved with redesign
Following the Deputy Governor’s proposed solutions, another letter was sent to him from the Public Health Unit and the Environmental Health Department requesting for the chance to have a meeting with the owner and manager of the building, to be involved in the redesigning of the space for the two departments.
In addition, it was requested to have an indoor air quality assessment conducted within the building prior to placement of any furniture or person into the building.
A follow up query by our newsroom revealed that the Office of the Deputy Governor did not consult the two departments to disclose what instructions were given to the ministry responsible to resolve the issues.
Also, reports indicate that the air quality assessment was not conducted prior to the relocating of the departments which was scheduled to be completed by today Friday March 4.
In addition, according to the bulletin issued on March 2, it stated that the Public Health Unit will be relocating to the third floor of the building.
This is a direct contradiction to the proposed solution offered by the Deputy Governor in his letter to have the Public Health Unit housed on the first and second floor of the building following the issue raised of accessibility.