Latest update April 12th, 2026 12:50 AM
Company had no Occupational Safety and Health standards
Death of 19-year-old excavator operator…
Kaieteur News- The Ministry of Labour, through its Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department, has concluded its investigation into the death 19-year-old Ezekiel Benjamin, an excavator operator who died last year November at his Kara Kara, Mackenzie, Linden, Region Ten worksite.
Dead, Ezekiel Benjamin
In a release on Wednesday, the Ministry said that following the accident, a formal investigation was launched by the Ministry’s Occupational Safety and Health Officer, Mr. Ray Hosannah, per the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Chapter 99:06 Laws of Guyana.
The Ministry stated that while the investigations revealed that there was non-compliance with certain sections of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Cap 99:06., it should be noted, however, that the Act does not address the issue of compensation.
Upon completing its investigation, the Ministry explained that several Occupational Safety and Health Policy breaches were identified by its officer. According to the ministry’s release, the accident was not reported to the Ministry and a register for the recording of workplace accidents was not kept.
“There was no evidence that the company had an Occupational Safety and Health Policy and there was an absence of a programme for the implementation of the Safety and Health Policy. No one was identified as a safety and health representative,” the Ministry explained.
The ministry further reported that, Benjamin operated an excavator in an unstable working environment that caused the excavator to topple and pin him in the swamp. “There was also a lack of adequate supervision since the accident was not detected immediately and the delay in responding could have contributed to the demise of the worker,” the Ministry added.
The Ministry continued, “The Employer failed to provide and maintain a safe, sound, healthy and secure working environment for the deceased in keeping with the duties of an employer as required by Section 46 (2) O of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Chapter 99:06, Laws of Guyana.”
After completing its investigation, the Labour Ministry revealed that several recommendations were made in keeping with the findings and that the employer was duly informed. It should be noted that follow-up actions will be taken to ensure compliance with the recommendations which were made, the Ministry said. “In addition, The Occupational Safety and Health Department is seeking legal advice from the Ministry’s Attorney-at-Law concerning this matter,” the Ministry announced.
Regarding the incident, Kaieteur News had reported that Benjamin was employed by Dindyal Sookram for a sub-contracted job and was tasked with operating an excavator on the north-eastern side of the Kara Kara land.
His job was to dig a drain to allow lodged water to run out to the Kara Kara Creek. While doing so, the excavator sank in the swampy area. “The excavator sank from the side and became submerged in the swamp, trapping the deceased (Benjamin) inside the cabin,” police had said in its report.
It was also reported that operators from another company, BOSAI Minerals, discovered the submerged excavator and raised an alarm. They rendered assistance by breaking the excavator cabin’s glass window and pulling Benjamin from the vehicle. Unfortunately, he was already dead when he was freed from the excavator.
Meanwhile, with a number of workplace deaths reported and being investigated by the Ministry, Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, is reminding employers and workers of the importance and need for good safety and health practices in the workplace so that similar incidents/accidents that can result in the loss of lives of loved ones can be avoided.
(Company had no Occupational Safety and Health standards)
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