An employee of Saipem was “seriously injured” in a May 25 accident at the Vreed-en-Hoop Shore Base Inc. (VEHSI) facility, Guyana’s Ministry of Labour said in a May 27 release.
Collis Hall, an operator, was using a 400-tonne Manitowoc Walk Crawler during a test loading exercise when it suddenly toppled over at 6:57 pm causing him to be seriously injured, the Ministry said based on testimonies from Manager, Della Rosa, and Safety & Health Officer, Alex George.
He was subsequently transported to the Woodlands Hospital, where he remains a patient.
Assistant Chief Occupational Safety & Health Officer at the Ministry, Maxean Bess, is conducting the investigation.
“Minister of Labour, the Honourable Joseph Hamilton, has repeatedly stressed the importance of ensuring safety and health in workplaces and on worksites to facilitate the safe return of workers to their families at the end of the work day or work period,” the Ministry said in its release.
In February, a Venezuelan national Rusbel Azocar died in an accident at the VEHSI facility, which utilizes reclaimed land in the Demerara River. The Ministry said its investigation indicated that Azocar fell into a hole. He was reportedly not wearing a life jacket, which was mandated to prevent drowning. He was an employee of Gas Total Solution Inc.
VEHSI forms part of the Port of Vreed-en-Hoop and is meant to be the special-purpose vehicle to serve ExxonMobil’s Yellowtail project.
