GRDB launches probe into mill employee’s death

Aug 20, 2008 News

The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has launched an investigation into the death of Kenneth Roberts, who died while performing official duties at the Mahaicony Rice Mill Limited.
Yesterday, Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, ordered a probe into the incident and has advised relevant personnel to approach the Ministry of Labour’s Health and Safety Department to examine the circumstances under which Roberts, called Kennard, met his demise.
The body of the 28-year-old man was found in a container used to process paddy shells into gas at the rice mill.  Roberts, of Lot One, Airy Hall, Mahaicony, was discovered on Monday at around 08:30 hrs, in the container, by workers who had missed him and had launched a search for him.
Kaieteur News understands that Roberts and another person were assigned to work on the apparatus which feeds paddy shells into a burner.
The apparatus can only be opened from the outside.
It is believed that Roberts went into the apparatus to clear it, but could not come back out, since his colleague was nowhere around.
Detectives believe that Roberts may have ingested the toxic gas from the apparatus and suffocated.
However, they are awaiting a post mortem examination report to determine the cause of his death, since there were no marks of violence on his body.
Yesterday, the Ministry issued a statement noting that the GRDB and its agencies will continue to ensure that arrangements are in place to ensure a safe and comfortable work environment.