The Ministry of Employment’s National Occupational Health and Safety Services (NOHSS) is investigating the death of a Japanese national.
The 50-year-old had faced difficulties while snorkelling in waters near the Fiji Hideaway Resort in Sigatoka earlier this month.
Minister for Employment Agni Deo Singh said preliminary investigations revealed the visitor had drowned while swimming on November 4, around 8am.
“He was swimming alone near the resort when this tragic incident occurred,” Mr Singh said.
“NOHSS is conducting further investigations to determine if the hotel had proper systems and procedures in place for guest activities.
“This includes examining the level of supervision for all events, as well as rescue and evacuation protocols for guests and staff during emergencies.”
He said the NOHSS was also working with relevant authorities to obtain the medical reports and post-mortem examination reports from the police to assist with its investigations.
“The hotel management must adequately identify all potential hazards and implement appropriate control strategies to prevent similar incidents in the future,” the minister said.
“The full report will be produced once the investigation is completed.
“The National OHS Services conducts inspections of all workplaces in Fiji, including resorts, to ensure that companies meet and comply with the minimum requirements stipulated in the law.
“The service also issued relevant enforcement notices for any non-compliance during their inspections to ensure that corrective actions are taken by the employers.”
