Officials of the Ministry of Labour are currently investigating the conditions under which teenager Sarwan Mahadeo was working when he was electrocuted while operating a plucking machine last Wednesday.
Mahadeo called ‘Mikey’, age 19 of Lot 39, Fourth Street, Block X, Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara was found lying next to the machine at the home of a resident a few houses away from his home last Wednesday afternoon and he was pronounced dead on arrival at the Leonora Cottage Hospital shortly after.
An official of the Occupational Safety and Health Department (OSHD) of the Labour Ministry told Stabroek News yesterday that the unit is currently undertaking investigations into the circumstances leading to the young man’s death. He said that following the investigation the department will decide what recommendations can be made to the workplace.
The official noted that there are several similar cases being looked into by the Labour Ministry and according to him after recommendations are made to workplaces found to be lacking, the OSHD would carry out follow- up visits to the respective workplaces.
Persons at the home where the teen was working, a chicken farm at the back of a yard, offered no comment when contacted by this newspaper yesterday and according to reports, the owners of the business “have been quiet” since the incident. Relatives of the teen told Stabroek News yesterday that the authorities should investigate the incident thoroughly since the electrical device was said to be faulty ever since it was bought by Mahadeo’s employer earlier this year.
This newspaper understands that the business where the incident occurred only came into existence late last year. Mahadeo who was unemployed at the time, would assist the owners of the chicken rearing entity until he started working full time recently.
According to reports, Mahadeo was operating the plucking machine shortly after 1 pm last Wednesday when he came into contact with an exposed wire. According to a neighbour, Mahadeo was alone at the time of the incident and a resident in the area observed the teen lying on the ground close to the plucking machine and immediately raised an alarm. He died shortly after.
Persons at the business place were reluctant to speak about the incident when this newspaper visited the home on Wednesday, one person stating that the incident was being investigated by the police.
Mahadeo, the youngest of four siblings, was buried yesterday on the WCD.
