Operations restored at ACS

Sheena Gayle, Gleaner Writer

Western Bureau:

Following in the wake of the recent power room explosion, which forced several workers to seek medical attention after being exposed to suspicious fumes, the Affiliated Computer Services (ACS) managed Xerox Company in Freeport, Montego Bay, is now back to normal.

Last week, Leroy Reid, vice president of ACS and country director global operations, told The Gleaner that the unfortunate incidents had created an environmental headache for the company but following extensive rehabilitation works, things are now back to normal.

"Employee safety is a priority, we have had some incidents that have resulted in our employees being uncomfortable in their work environment and we took it seriously," Reid said, during a recent tour of the facility.

Just under a month ago, several workers attached to ACS had to be rushed to the Cornwall Regional Hospital after inhaling suspicious fumes emitting from exploded UPS generator batteries. It was the eighth such incident in recent times.

Following the latest incident, the Ministry of Health requested that the company improve the air-flow within the building. On its own, the company also took the decision to replace the carpet into the building and did modification to allow more ventilation into the workspace.

"The Ministry of Health has been engaged, we have engaged external third party vendors and there are certain recommendations that have been made to mitigate against the risk we sometimes face as a company," Reid explained.

"We are complying with the recommendations. We have done a thorough assessment of all UPS generators in all our buildings and where it is warranted for batteries to be replaced, we have replaced those batteries," added Reid.

James Tacci, the corporate medical director and manager of Medical, Health, and Wellness at Xerox Corporation, who participated in the tour, said that in the aftermath of the health scare of the affected employees, the company was done follow-ups to ensure that they are back to good health.