Cuban worker dies after high-pressure hose hits him at construction site

A 25-year-old Cuban national died on Friday after he was struck by a high-pressure hose while carrying out construction work at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD). Dead is Yuviosmar Galindo Cardona. Police in Regional Division Four B are investigating the fatal industrial incident, which occurred at about 09:45h on Friday.
According to preliminary investigations, Galindo Cardona was operating a high-pressure hose attached to a cement machine during construction works when he reportedly lost control of the equipment. The hose then swung and struck him to the head. The injured worker was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His body was later escorted to a funeral home, where it remains pending a post-mortem examination (PME).
Police investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing. The death comes amid continued concerns over workplace safety in Guyana’s construction sector, with the Labour and Manpower Planning Ministry urging employers and workers to place greater emphasis on occupational safety and health measures. In June, the Labour and Manpower Planning Ministry urged employers in the construction industry to work more closely with occupational safety officials as part of efforts to reduce workplace accidents.
Senior Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Officer Darwin Borne said the Ministry’s “Putting Safety First” campaign was aimed at increasing awareness among employers and workers about their responsibilities under the OSH Act. Borne said the Ministry was conducting inspections, training sessions and awareness programmes across the country, particularly in response to the increased activity within the construction sector. He noted that the campaign was designed to address hazards associated with the country’s infrastructure expansion by promoting stronger safety practices and accident prevention.
The Ministry’s OSH Department has also been conducting construction seminars and inspections across the regions, providing guidance to workers and employers on workplace safety requirements. Earlier in April, Labour and Manpower Planning Minister Keoma Griffith raised concerns over workplace safety statistics, reporting that 13 lives had been lost due to workplace incidents between January and April 2026, while another 64 non-fatal incidents were recorded during the same period.
Griffith said the figures highlighted the need for stricter compliance with health and safety protocols and called for a shift towards prevention rather than responding after accidents occur. He said the Government would continue strengthening enforcement and expanding the capacity of the occupational safety inspectorate. Between 2020 and 2025, the Labour Ministry conducted 6186 OSH inspections across high-risk and low-risk sectors, reaching more than 27,000 workers nationwide.
The latest incident follows other recent workplace tragedies, including the April 2026 collapse of a three-storey building under construction at Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara (ECD), which resulted in the death of carpenter Radish Domingo, 46, and injuries to several other workers.