The Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department says it is currently investigating workplace fatalities that occurred on Thursday, August 15th, 2024 on an unregistered land dredge claimed by 38-year-old John Burrowes, who is operating in St. Elizabeth, Mahdia, Potaro Mining District # 2, Region Eight.
It is the latest in a series of workplace fatalities that at last count had put the figure significantly for the comparable period last year.
The deceased have been identified as 19-year-old Imran Blake of Kuru Kuru College Linden Soesdyke Highway, and 26-year-old Sherwayne Joseph.
It was reported that around 06:00 hrs., Joseph, Blake along with six other miners left the camp to commence work for the morning. At approximately 23:15 hrs. while carrying out their work activity, co-workers heard rumbling sounds. They saw the pit walls begin to collapse and raised the alarm alerting others to evacuate the cave.
However, Joseph and Blake could not escape and were buried under the falling debris.
Following these reports, Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Officer, Ray Hosannah and Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Safety Officer Irvie London visited the site to commence the preliminary investigation to ascertain the causes of the accident and make recommendations to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
