Workplace Accident Leaves Cuban Worker Dead, Two Colleagues Seriously Injured

# Cuban National Electrocuted in Plantation Houston Workplace Accident, Two Others Injured

A Cuban national was killed and two of his colleagues injured on Tuesday morning after a metal scaffold reportedly rolled into high-voltage power lines while the men were working outside a building at Plantation Houston, Guyana.

According to reports, the three workers were on a metal scaffold when it began moving backwards towards electrical lines outside the building. It is suspected that the scaffold’s wheels may not have been properly locked or secured.

The scaffold subsequently came into contact with the power lines, sending a massive electrical shock through the structure and the three men.

One worker reportedly came into direct contact with the electrical lines and suffered the most severe injuries. He was thrown to the ground, with his clothing catching fire following the electrical contact.

Other workers at the scene reportedly attempted to assist, including using a fire extinguisher, while emergency medical personnel were summoned.

Two of the injured men were rushed to hospital for treatment for burns and other injuries, while the third worker was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Guyana Power and Light company (GPL) confirmed that it had been made aware of the fatal accident.

According to GPL, scaffolding reportedly rolled away from a building and came into contact with one of the company’s 13.8 kV primary distribution lines.

Following the incident, GPL urged contractors, workers and members of the public to exercise extreme caution while carrying out activities near electrical lines, poles and other parts of its network infrastructure.

The power company stressed that appropriate safety measures should always be maintained when working near electrical infrastructure to reduce the risk of similar tragedies.

## Workplace Deaths Raise Concerns

The latest death comes amid growing concern over a series of fatal workplace incidents in Guyana, several of which have involved foreign nationals.

Last week, a Cuban national working at the Muneshwers container terminal was reportedly killed after being crushed by a container that was being moved.

In July, another Cuban national died at a worksite after reportedly being struck in the head by a construction hose.

In December 2025, another Cuban worker was killed after a concrete wall collapsed and buried him at his workplace.

Three oil workers also died in a road accident last Friday, shortly after arriving in Guyana, when a heavy-duty truck collided with the bus in which they were travelling.

Other recent incidents under scrutiny include the deaths of cargo vessel workers from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning and two workers from Berbice who died after a barge they were transporting to Georgetown sank.

Questions have also surrounded the investigation into the MV Barima tragedy, in which 17 crew members lost their lives.

The Ministry of Labour has indicated in relation to several workplace deaths that investigations have been launched, but the findings of a number of those investigations have not been publicly disclosed.

Tuesday’s fatal electrocution adds another workplace death to that growing list and is likely to renew calls for stronger enforcement of occupational health and safety requirements, particularly at construction and industrial worksites.