The Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health Department has launched an investigation into a serious construction accident that occurred on Tuesday last at the Sachi Building, Lot 136 ‘E’ Regent Street, Lacytown, Georgetown.
According to a press statement issued by the Labour Ministry, Senior Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) officer Johana Vaughn visited the scene and began an investigation after hearing about the incident. So far, it has been revealed that Leon Turpin, a contractor/supervisor was seriously injured while working on the site. He was on an aluminium scaffold attempting to install a pressure plate on the glass at the front of the building when he came into contact with a live electrical wire.
Turpin sustained burns to his hands and other parts of the body and was rushed to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital. Vaughn paid a brief visit to the injured man while he was being treated and managed to interview him.
Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton expressed his concerns about workplace injuries and emphasised the importance of good workplace safety and health practices.
Hamilton further stated that his ministry, through the OSH Department, is addressing unsafe working conditions and health practices through inspection audits in an effort to reduce the number of accidents that occur in both the formal and informal economies. According to the ministry, a thorough investigation will answer the many unanswered questions.
City Engineer Colvern Venture, in an interview with Stabroek News on Thursday last, stated that the building was within the property guidelines for the city. This comment was made after there were rumours that the building was very close to the electrical wires. However, the man came into contact with the wires because part of the scaffolding was erected close to the wires.
Guyana Power and Light had stated on Tuesday that a network disturbance had disrupted service to customers in sections of Georgetown, the West Bank and West Coast Demerara. This was after Turpin came into contact with the wires. The utility company urges contractors to observe the necessary safety precautions to avoid injury and unnecessary service disruptions.
