BOSAI fatal accident: 10-member investigative team appointed, probe begins on Monday

The formal investigation, which was ordered by Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton after the fatal accident involving Neptrid Hercules at the BOSAI Minerals Group in Linden, will commence next Monday.

A statement from the Labour Ministry shared that it will last for six weeks. This action is in keeping with Section 72 (1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Chapter 99:06, Laws of Guyana.
The Act gives the Minister the power to direct formal investigation into any accident arising out of and in the course of employment of any worker where he considers it expedient to so do. The persons appointed are referred to as “the court” and “shall hold the investigation in open court in such a manner and under such conditions as the court may think most effectual for ascertaining the causes and circumstances of the accident.”
“Competent persons have been appointed to serve on the investigating team whose main purpose will be “to determine the cause(s) of the accident and make recommendations for the prevention of accidents generally and more in particular the recurrence of similar accidents,” the Ministry has stated.
The Minister met with the 10-member team appointed to serve on this formal investigation team on Monday.

They include Chairman, Charles Ceres; Victor Fernandes from the National Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH); Jimmy Reece, Michael Howard and Krishna Ramdas of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC); Colis Primo from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Neza King and Darwin Bourne of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department of the Labour Ministry; Legal Officer of the Ministry, Alyea Williams; and Emilia Maslen.
It was reported that Neptrid Hercules went missing in the early hours of the morning on Saturday, March 11, along with the CAT D9T Dozer which he was operating at the time. This was as a result of a failure experienced by the overburden dump where he was working in the East Montgomery Mine which caused them to be covered by the overburden material.
The body of Hercules was found several days later on Tuesday, after an extensive search. The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission lent support and technical assistance for the recovery.

The Labour Ministry shared, “The Minister is deeply concerned about this matter. He holds the view that this accident should never have happened and he owes it to the family, co-workers and the community to ensure that that there are no recurrences. Hence the appointment of this formal investigation to provide answers to the numerous questions that abound and recommendations for implementation.”
In 2020, 32 persons died in workplace accidents, with that number falling to 27 in 2021. In total, 184 workplace accidents were investigated this year, inclusive of the 19 fatal events. (G12)