Probe launched into death of young man killed by metal lift

The Ministry of Labour has launched an investigation to the death of a young man who was crushed by a metal lift while working at a supermarket at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD), on Thursday last.
In statement from the Ministry on Sunday, it was noted that the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department commenced its probe of the accident that led to the death of 22-year-old labourer, Sudesh Charran, of Lot 3964 West Minister, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

Charran had been employed at the F&R Supermarket for over four years.
Senior Occupational Safety and Health Officer at the Ministry, Maxean Bess visited and investigated the accident site at the F&R Supermarket, Stelling Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, WCD, on Friday.
Investigations revealed that the company’s driver reported that at about 16:00h on Thursday, he transported a variety of goods via minibus GZZ 3362 to the supermarket, and Charran was told to offload them. He further stated that he told Charran not to walk under the lift and then ventured inside the supermarket.
While inside the supermarket, he heard a loud noise and when he looked, the metal lift was on the deceased. He shouted for help and employees and members of the public ran to his assistance in an attempt to remove the lift from Charran’s lifeless body.
The Ministry said an investigation is expected to continue into the man’s death.
Over the years the Labour Ministry remained concerned about accidents within the workplace, in particular fatal accidents. In previous reports, the Minister of the Ministry, Joseph Hamilton repeatedly underscored the need for increased OSH awareness programmes in workplaces.
Only Saturday, Charran’s mother, Natasha, called for justice, stating during an interview with this newspaper that the metal lift had been there for years.
The woman used to work at the same place as well and was always fearful of the lift.

“I use to say I don’t like how this lift look because it looked very dangerous. I didn’t even know that today that same lift will kill my son. Is best God deh tek me and lef me only son. I need justice for my son. I really need justice for my son,” she declared.
The woman related that the lift has been a hazard at the business place for years, and no effort was made to get it fixed.
“[When] my daughter call me and tell me something happen to “Boy” [Sudesh] and me ask she what happened, and she said something happen at the work place. Meh shout and me tell she meh know something wrong with meh son, meh know is that lift. Me seh the only thing that will kill meh son is that lift; and so said so is that lift killed my son,” the woman said.
The inconsolable mother could not come to grips with the death of her son, whom she described as “a very loving person”. She related that it has only been two months since her husband died, adding that her son died on the second day he returned to work after grieving his father’s death.
“This is nothing easy, instead of marrying out my son I have to go and bury my son. I was working there in 2017 and right there we have to pass to carry the garbage out. There is nowhere else you can pass to carry the garbage out. Every time I go to carry out the garbage, we would have to run because we frighten the lift.”
The grieving woman said she worked very hard to give her children, especially her son, a better life after she battled an abusive relationship for years without any financial assistance. Now, as the family was about to reunite and build life together, she has lost her son.