Haags Bosch dumpsite death…Labor Ministry to take Cevons to court for breach of Health and Safety act

Jan 14, 2012 News

The Ministry of Labor will soon be taking Cevons Waste Management to court in connection with the death

Clive Chisholm

of 42-year-old porter Clive Chisholm at the Haags Bosch dumpsite almost a month ago.
This is according to Minister of Labor Nanda Gopaul, who says that Cevon’s breached the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
He disclosed that his Ministry has completed its investigation into the porter’s death.
According to Gopaul under the Occupational Health and Safety Act once an accident occurs on a work site, the company has a mandate to immediately report the incident. However, in this case Cevons reportedly failed to report the matter.
Gopaul said company officials are still to make a formal report to his Ministry. The matter was brought to the Ministry’s attention through the media where several reports on the incident were carried.
Further Gopual stated that officials of the Ministry made several attempts to contact the management of the company but all of their attempts have been futile. He cautioned other companies to take note as his ministry will be stepping up action against companies who are in breach of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. He added that their focus will not only be on companies which fail to report industrial accidents, but on those that breach other parts of the act. These he said also include poor safety measures and improper working conditions for staffers.
He called on the relatives of persons who have been victims of industrial accidents to report the matters instead of taking financial compensation, since this action can cause the death of others.
Meanwhile this publication has been informed that the police have completed their investigations and a file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecution for advice.
In December 15 last year 42 year-old Clive Chisholm was reportedly crushed by a Cevon’s Waste Management truck at the Haags Bosch, Eccles, East Bank Demerara dumpsite. Chisholm was employed as a porter with Cevons Waste Management and was also employed part time with the Mayor and City Council. According to one report, Chisholm had entered the pit when the truck driver started to reverse. It is alleged that the driver was apparently unaware that the porter was near the vehicle, and only realized he had crushed Chisholm when a bulldozer operator screamed out a warning.
This publication was also told that Chisholm was behind the tuck urinating  when he was crushed.