Workers gets safety gear after electrocution at Robb St building site

The remaining workers at a Robb Street building site, where a workman was electrocuted nearly three weeks ago, have since been equipped with safety gear and measures have been taken to cover up the wires in front of the building.

A frontal view of the building, as seen on Thursday.
A frontal view of the building, as seen on Thursday.

On Thursday, one of the workmen at the building, located between Salt and Pepper and Red Mango gift shop, said that they were given a few days off after the accident. Since then, the men have been provided with helmets and vests, and while those atop the building that could be viewed from the street were all wearing helmets, they did not all have vests on.

Additionally, pipes have been placed over the wires that run just a few feet parallel to the building, presumably to prevent electrocution if contact were to be made with any live wires.

The pipes that were placed over the electrical wires.
The pipes that were placed over the electrical wires.

On June 12, Carl Clarkson, 42, called ‘Boy Blue’ was electrocuted at a Robb Street building site when a steel rod he was fetching came into contact with electrical wires located in front of the two-story building. Reports are that Clarkson was pitched into the zinc fence and catapulted back inside the building from the impact.

The man’s family members have since stated that a report was made to the Department of Labour and officials promised to look into the incident.

Two of the workmen on site on Thursday.
Two of the workmen on site on Thursday.

Stabroek News’ own efforts to obtain information from the department on this matter, as well as prior matters related to death resulting from on-site accidents, have so far borne no fruit. It was, however, indicated yesterday by the secretary at the Ministry of Social Protection, Bibi Ali, that the relevant officers are currently working on having the information compiled.