Deceased was not operating excavator in sandpit accident – son

The circumstances surrounding the tragic death of 66-year-old Lennox McPherson at a sandpit operated by the Guyana Shield Resources Inc at Dora on the Soesdyke- Linden Highway have taken a new turn, in accordance with statements made by his son Keon McPherson.
Initial reports had suggested that the senior McPherson had been operating an excavator when the accident occurred, but the junior McPherson has clarified that his father had been driving a bulldozer.
According to Keon McPherson, his father had momentarily left his bulldozer to converse with the excavator operator when tragedy struck.

It is alleged that the excavator operator had suddenly activated his machine, and the swinging bucket had inadvertently struck Lennox, resulting in the fatal injuries he sustained.
“When he hit him, he panicked…we were told that he was arrested, and was released later that same day, and had to report to the CID department, where he was later released there, too”, Keon McPherson had related.
The incident has prompted an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department of the Labour Ministry. Darwin Bourne, overseeing the investigation, has already visited the accident site for inspection and discussions with Hilbert Shields, the chief executive of the sandpit operation, and other staff members.
In the wake of his father’s untimely death, the grieving Keon McPherson has been in communication with the company, seeking accountability and support for his family’s devastating loss. There have been assurances from the company that the expenses relating to his father’s funeral would be offset, and compensation would be provided to the grieving family. Although the specifics of the compensation package have not been disclosed, the son remains optimistic that the company would honour its commitment.
“I am the one that has been contacting them [the company], and it wasn’t until I went to collect his things that was when they told me what happened…they said they would compensate the family…”, he said.
In 2023, the Labour Ministry recorded a total of 20 workplace deaths owing to accidents in the mining, construction, agriculture and manufacturing sectors. Of the 20 deaths recorded, nine occurred in the mining sector in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) while six were recorded in the construction sector.
The Ministry also recorded 175 non-fatal accidents of the 577 reports received, and those were investigated. Most of these reports emanated from the agriculture and manufacturing sectors.
Also, 950 inspections were conducted at workplaces across the 10 administrative regions, and over 8000 workers were directly impacted. In instances where breaches of the Occupational Safety and Health Act were identified, the Labour Ministry offered written and verbal advice.
In 2020, there were 32 workplace deaths; in 2021, that number decreased to 27; and in 2022, there were 21 deaths.