The Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health Department has launched an investigation into the workplace accident which resulted in the death of a 27-year-old miner last Saturday.
The accident occurred at Mining District No. 6, Frenchman Backdam, Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
Leon Lyken of Zeelugt New Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo was at the time employed by Yugindra Persaud, a release from the ministry said yesterday.
According to reports received, Lyken was engaged in jetting one of the walls of the mining pit for shelving around 9:15 am, when a 20-foot wall on the opposite side of the pit collapsed.
An excavator was subsequently used to retrieve his body.
Three persons were working in the mining pit at the time of the accident. One of them suffered a broken leg and other bodily injuries.
