The Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department is currently investigating a workplace fatality that occurred on Tuesday, July 16 at 37 Section ‘C’ Land of Canaan.
The deceased has been identified as a 28-year-old construction worker, Christopher Paul Fernandes of 43 Supply, East Bank Demerara.
The Ministry did not release details but the News Room understands that Fernandes was electrocuted.
Following these reports, the OSH Department, the Police, and the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) personnel were informed of the accident and subsequently arrived at the scene.
Senior OSH Officer, Mr. Darwin Bourne is leading the preliminary investigation to ascertain the causes of the accident and make recommendations to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton extends heartfelt sympathy to the grieving relatives, co-workers, and friends of the deceased.
He also takes this opportunity to remind both employers and workers of the importance and need for good safety and health practices in the workplace so that similar incidents/accidents that can result in the loss of lives of loved ones can be avoided.
Investigations are ongoing.
Editor’s Note: This article, when first published, inadvertently carried a photo of another electrocution at Enmore, East Coast Demerara a few weeks ago. The image has since been removed and replaced with an image of the location at Land of Canaan.