2 dead after being electrocuted at rice mill in Mahaicony

– Labour Ministry launches investigation

Two young men, aged 25 and 27, are now dead after they were electrocuted while conducting welding work at the Trans Rice Mill located at Branch Road, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
Dead are 27-year-old Shaqueen Butts, a labourer of Lot 4 Airy Hall, Mahaicony, and 25-year-old Gousham Narine, a welder of Lot 78 Triple X Non-Pareil, ECD.
The incident occurred on Friday at about 16:20h while they were welding metal.
It was reported that Butts and Narine were building a metal shed at the eastern side of the Trans Rice Mill, and were reportedly standing on a metal scaffold.
An eyewitness, who was working with the duo at the time, told the Police that Butts and Narine were working together on one scaffold.
Shortly after welding some plates, Narine was reportedly seen lengthening the 20 feet metal scaffold when it connected to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) line and shocked him. At the time, Butts was still on the scaffold.
Butts then held onto Narine, thus resulting in him also being electrocuted. Both of the men then fell off the scaffold and unto the ground.
They were picked up and rushed to the Mahaicony Public Hospital, where Narine was pronounced dead on arrival and Butts subsequently died while receiving treatment.
Narine received burn injuries to the left hand, lower abdomen, and left and right feet, and blood was seen running from his nostrils.
Meanwhile, Butts received bruises to his face.
Their bodies were escorted to Bailey’s Funeral Parlour where they are being stored while awaiting post-mortem examinations.
Police investigations are in progress.
However, the Ministry of Labour has also commenced its own probe into the incident.
In a statement on Sunday, the Ministry said its Occupational Safety and Health Officer, Darwin Bourne, who is assigned to Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) has commenced investigations.
Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton has expressed deep concerns about workplace fatalities – an issue he has been raising awareness of.
The Ministry said the investigation will seek to determine the causes of the incident and recommendations will also be made for the prevention of recurrences.
Nevertheless, Hamilton extended heartfelt sympathy to the grieving relatives, colleagues and friends of the deceased, according to the Ministry.