Security officer crushed while transporting equipment to worksite

Fifty-seven-year-old Pharbodan Rampersaud, security officer and handyman of Belle West Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara (WBD) was on Thursday crushed while transporting a roller to his worksite.
Rampersaud was employed by DSC Construction. Based on reports received, on the day in question at about 16:55h, Rampersaud along with others were transporting a machine roller in a lorry along the Canal Number 2 Public Road to the DSC Construction site at Belle West Housing Scheme.
However, during the exercise, Rampersaud became trapped between the truck’s cargo body and the machine roller. A passerby noticed the incident and alerted the driver who brought the vehicle to a stop. Upon checking, he noticed the injured Rampersaud.
The injured man was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WRDH), where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Following the incident, the Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department launched an investigation into the incident, led by OSH Officer Johana Vaughn.
The incident comes amid increasing concerns over workplace safety in Guyana, especially in light of several recent fatalities. In July, the Labour Ministry’s OSH Department launched a nationwide safety sensitisation programme aimed at preventing workplace accidents.
This initiative, developed in collaboration with Guyana Power and Light (GPL), seeks to reinforce the need for conducting risk assessments on job sites before operations begin.
Gweneth King, a consultant with the OSH Department, emphasised the importance of these assessments, particularly in high-risk industries like construction. The initiative also focuses on educating workers about the importance of wearing proper protective gear and adhering to safety protocols to prevent accidents.
The ongoing effort addresses widespread concerns about workplace safety, including the risk of electrocution, which has been the cause of multiple deaths this year.