The police and the Ministry of Labour are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 19-year-old of Lot 105 Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara, who was electrocuted on Friday while installing gutters on a three-storey building under construction at 27 Norton Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown.
Bryan Hardial, who was employed as a gutter installer by Unitech Awning and Shutter Manufacturers, was reportedly electrocuted at about 12.00 hours on Friday, while installing gutters on the building.
Inquiries revealed that Hardial, along with a 53-year-old colleague, were sent to the location by the company to install gutters on the aforementioned building.
The colleague told police that about 12.00 hours, he was on the ground floor while Hardial was on the third floor moving aluminum gutters, when the gutters came into contact with electrical wires on the utility pole. He was instantly electrocuted and as a result, fell from the third floor to the ground floor.
At the time, the surroundings were wet, and Hardial was not wearing his boots or any protective gear.
The emergency medical technicians (EMTs) were summoned, and Hardial was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he succumbed at about 13.00 hours. When police examined the body, they observed swelling and bruises.
Hardial’s cousin, Elita Persaud, told the Sunday Stabroek that his mother was not given any information from the boss as to why her cousin was not wearing any protective gear. All she knew besides what happened, was Hardial was not wearing any protective gear. Persaud added that her aunt was told by the boss that the company will help with the funeral expenses.
The death is the latest in a series of workplace fatalities. The Ministry of Labour recently said that the number of deaths this year is above last year’s figure.
In a statement yesterday, the Ministry said that according to reports, Hardial was in the process of raising a gutter to be installed towards the front of the third floor of the building under construction.
During this process, a part of the gutter came into contact with the live electrical wires at the front of the building, causing Hardial to suffer an electrical shock and fall from the third floor to the ground.
He was then transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital by ambulance, where he subsequently died.
He was reportedly not wearing any safety gear at the time of the accident, the ministry said.
Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Officer, Neza King, is conducting the investigation, which will entail additional visits to the accident site, and taking statements from eyewitnesses.
