–after excavator toppled into pond

THE gold miner who lost his life Tuesday while operating an excavator which toppled, died as a result of asphyxiation, according to the post-mortem examination done Wednesday, police said.
The miner, 45-year old Ricky Hughes of Glasgow, East Bank Berbice was working too close to a pond in the Omai area in Region 8 when the excavator toppled into the pool of water resulting in him being trapped inside.

Police said from initial investigations Hughes was driving an excavator close to a pond when the machine toppled into the waterway pinning him, resulting in his demise. The body was air-dashed Tuesday to Georgetown.

The Ministry of Natural Resources has confirmed the death, stating that it occurred during a mining operation at Omai. In a statement, the ministry said there was at least one fatality on August 9, 2016 as a result of a mining accident in the Omai area.

“While all the facts are still yet to be determined, reports are that an excavator was trying to lower an engine into a mining pit when it toppled and the operator became submerged, resulting in the fatality.”
A team of policemen has been deployed to the area to conduct a probe. The ministry, however, did not disclose whether the mining operation was legal or illegal.

A report of the 2015 Commission of Inquiry (COI) into mining accidents stated that these accidents were said to be caused by neglect of safe mining practices, including shortcuts taken by workers, who sometimes treasured their finds over their own lives. The CoI determined that there was a pervading culture of laxness towards safety and that clear rules must be applied and enforced.