The Ministry of Labour yesterday said it is deeply concerned about the recent workplace fatalities that occurred in October 2024, highlighting serious deficiencies in safety and health practices within key sectors.
Two tragic incidents took place over the weekend, it noted in a release. On Saturday, October 12, 2024, Patrick Picket, a serviceman at Top Mix Cement, sustained fatal injuries while servicing a 14-tonne ready-mix cement/concrete truck.
Picket was inspecting the differential oil beneath the vehicle when the truck, operated by Sham Singh, was moved to the batching plant for loading. Harry Mahase, Batch Supervisor, discovered Picket injured on the ground. Despite being rushed to Diamond Regional Hospital, he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The following day, Sunday, October 13, 2024, another tragedy occurred. Marlon Davidson, a 37-year-old Security Supervisor employed by Hopkinson Mining Security Firm, lost his life after losing control of an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) while travelling along the northern side of Sand Hill Trail.
Yesterday, the Ministry received another report of a workplace fatality as a result of a suspected drowning in Region Eight and a Senior Occupational Safety and Health Officer is on his way to conduct that investigation.
In light of these incidents, the Ministry of Labour, along with Joseph Hamilton, Minister of Labour, is urging employers—particularly those in the mining and construction sectors—to strictly adhere to occupational safety and health regulations. These regulations are outlined in the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act, Chapter 99:06.
