The Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department has launched an investigation into a fatal accident which occurred around 18:40 hrs on Saturday February 10, at the Vreed-en-Hoop Shore Base construction site, Best Foreshore, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).
The deceased has been identified as 36-year-old Rusbel Jesus Rengel Azocar, of San Felix, Venezuela. He was at the time employed by subcontractor, Gas Total Solution Inc.
Enquiries disclosed that Azocar was employed at the Shore Base facility as a Health and Safety worker. He was placing ‘cones and danger tape’ around a hole as a signal to warn others of the hazard but fell into the hole himself.
The hole had water several feet deep. Azocar, who was found in the hole head down, presumably drowned. Some witnesses activated the emergency response immediately but unfortunately, Azocar could not be rescued in time by his emergency response colleagues.
The body was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival by a Doctor on duty. The body was then escorted to the Ezekiel Funeral Home, awaiting a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death.
Eyewitnesses alleged that Azocar was not wearing a life jacket at the time of his fall, despite a mandate to wear such safety gear on the quay to prevent drowning.
The quay wall slab demolition works have since been suspended.
Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, MP., has expressed growing concern over injuries and accidents which occur on the job site.
Having acknowledged the distress it causes for the loved ones of the deceased, the Minister therefore extends heartfelt sympathy to the affected families, colleagues, and friends.
The OSH department continues to reiterate the importance of adhering to workplace health and safety regulations to mitigate the likelihood of workplace accidents.
Investigations into the incident are currently ongoing.
