THE Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department has launched an investigation into a fatal workplace accident that occurred on January 16, 2025, at the John Fernandes Limited (JFL) wharf, Water Street, Georgetown.

In a press release, the ministry identified the deceased as Dallas Sharples, a 63-year-old stevedore employed by JFL. Reports indicate that Sharples was working with colleagues to offload containers from the vessel MV JPO Aquila when the tragic incident occurred.

Senior OSH Officer Garrway Bourne and OSH Officer Ray Hosannah promptly visited the site to initiate a thorough investigation. Their objective is to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident and to develop measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton expressed heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased. He emphasised the importance of adhering to robust occupational safety and health practices, urging employers and workers to prioritise safety to avoid such devastating losses.

“The issue of health and safety is not just for workplaces but also for our homes,” Minister Hamilton remarked in an end-of-year press conference. He warned that failure to change the culture surrounding occupational safety in Guyana could lead to more tragedies.

In 2024, the ministry’s OSH Department conducted 1,381 inspections across high- and low-risk workplaces, impacting an estimated 13,000 workers in Georgetown and Regions One to 10. Of these inspections, 673 focused on high-risk environments.

The ministry reiterated its commitment to fostering a culture of safety, aiming to safeguard workers and prevent accidents that claim lives and disrupt families. The investigation into Sharples’ death is ongoing, with recommendations expected to enhance workplace safety protocols at JFL and beyond.