Latest update September 3rd, 2026 10:25 AM
Industrial accidents: The need for more enforcement
Dear Editor,
The Ministry of Labour is now reporting that industrial accidents are on the rise in Guyana. The serious nature of many of these accidents warrants improvement in our enforcement mechanism.
The seriousness of industrial accidents can be traced to a major incident at Rose Hall Estate in 1970. A total of seven men lost their lives in a clarifier at the estate.
A clarifier is a large tank that is used to settle heated cane juice before evaporation. After a period of time, toxic substances build up in the clarifier. Hence, clarifiers need to be periodically cleaned to purge the substances such as mud. It was during this cleaning phase that led to the fatal deaths of the seven workers.
As a result of the fatal accident, Sir Edward Luckhoo, the acting Governor General of Guyana in 1970, ordered a Commission of Inquiry. Sir Luckhoo’s appointment came about after the untimely death of Sir David Rose in 1969. Sir Kenneth Stoby headed the Commission of Inquiry.
The Commission issued its report in May of 1970. It concluded that the men died from the dangerous gases in the clarifier such as hydrogen sulphide. The gases were caused by fermentation that existed from the presence of mud and other matter in the clarifier.
The Commissioners blamed Bookers (now GuySuCo) for its failure to ensure compliance with the Factories (Safety) Regulations of 1953. These regulations clearly stipulated that workers must be provided with breathing apparatus and/or safety belts, along with ropes when cleaning the clarifier.
The Report also faulted the company for other failures. For instance, the process foreman and cleaners did not ensure that the mud valve was dismantled. This was a necessary step before the workers entered the clarifier, as required by the safety procedures.
The Report called for adequate training for workers who are charged with the responsibility of cleaning clarifiers; written instructions to workers on proper procedures for the cleaning of equipment; record keeping of the individuals who have been issued these instructions; and more frequent factory inspection by qualified officers of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
Clearly, some of these recommendations, if implemented today, could remedy some of the problems that we faced last year.
Last year alone, 24 persons were killed as a direct result of industrial accidents, compared with 14 deaths recorded in 2009. Most of these deaths occurred in the mining sector, which recorded 14 deaths, followed by forestry with four. The most widely reported accident in 2010 was the gruesome death of a Barama Company Limited employee. His remains were found in a wood chipper machine.
The increase in industrial accidents has risen by 400% since 2007, when the Ministry of Labour reported five fatal accidents. Although most of the fatal accidents are in the mining sector, there are still many serious accidents in the agricultural sector.
However, while the deadliest jobs are in the mining and forestry sectors, industrial accidents were most prevalent in the agricultural sector with over 900 occurring last year. Most of these accidents involve workers from GuySuCo. The large number of accidents now reported could be seen as a reflection of better reporting mechanisms in place, after the Commission of Inquire was ordered in 1970. Subsequently, the Government passed the Occupation Health and Safety Law in 1997. However, the new legislation came 27 years after the accident at Rose Hall Estate. These measures have heightened awareness of the need for safety in the work place.
However, it has not resulted in a decline in fatal accidents and a reduction in the total number of industrial accidents. What is needed is to implement the provisions of the law. More enforcement of our safety laws will ensure compliance.
Winston Felix,
President, Guy-Associates
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