A mason is now dead and another injured after they fell yesterday from a scaffold on the four-storey building where they were both working at Holmes and Quamina streets, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown.
Vickram Nandkumar, 22, of Belle West, Canal Number 2 Polder, West Bank Demerara sustained injuries to his chest and abdomen. He was rushed to the St Joseph Mercy Hospital where he died while receiving medical attention.
His workmate, Anand Persaud, 24, of Plantain Walk, West Coast Demerara sustained injuries including a broken leg. He was taken to the Woodlands Hospital where he remained a patient up to last evening in a stable condition after undergoing emergency surgery.
Nandkumar and Persaud were among of group of men working on the building, which is located behind the Fix-It Hardware Store on Main Street.
According to reports, the incident occurred around 16:30 hrs, while they were both on a wooden scaffold plastering a western wall of the building.
Sand and cement were being taken up to the fourth storey of the building by an electrical lift when a cable burst, causing the lift to fall. The falling lift hit the scaffold and both Nandkumar and Persaud fell.
When Stabroek News visited the scene yesterday, the building was tightly locked, as work had ceased after the incident.
Three of the workers, when approached by this newspaper, refused to comment on the matter.
One resident of the area, expressed her frustration over the entire incident. According to her, it was one is which could have been avoided if proper safety measures were in place.
Another man said he was still on duty at a nearby store when he heard the loud noise. Upon enquiring he learnt of the fatal incident.
Efforts to contact the employer also proved fruitless. During last year there were 23 workplace accidents, most, if not all, of which were widely believed to have been avoidable.
This fatal industrial accident would have to be reported to the Ministry of Social Protection. There have been concerns that these workplace deaths aren’t being vigorously investigated by the authorities. (Sharda Bacchus)
