A workplace accident in Plaine-des-Papayes, Mauritius, claimed the lives of three Bangladeshi workers on November 4. Mohammad Miraz Hossain, 36, Md Balal Hossain, 37, and Jobayed Islam Sikder, 25, were employed by Shafick Aluminium and were involved in unloading tinted glass panels from China. The incident occurred at around 5:55 pm while the workers were inside a container.
The accident involved a 2.5-ton crate of glass panels that fell on the workers during the unloading process. Two Nepalese workers who witnessed the incident will be questioned by police with the assistance of an interpreter to help reconstruct the events leading up to the accident. The investigation aims to determine if safety protocols were followed and if the workers received proper training.
The workers had arrived in Mauritius in May and had completed eight transfers of crates before the accident occurred during the ninth operation. The crate measured eight feet by six feet and contained 41 glass panels, each six millimeters thick. The cause of the accident is believed to be related to the handling of the crane, according to initial reports from the labor minister.
Emergency services found the workers trapped under the heavy crate, and despite efforts to save them, they were pronounced dead at 7:20 pm. The Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service used specialized equipment to lift the crate and free the bodies. Autopsies revealed that the cause of death was traumatic asphyxiation.
The investigation will examine the working conditions and safety measures in place during the operation. This includes whether the workers received adequate training for handling heavy loads and if they had the necessary protective equipment. The labor ministry has opened a separate investigation into the incident.
Labor Minister Reza Uteem stated that the government is taking the incident seriously and will ensure that the employer takes responsibility for the workers' families. The minister also reported that the employer explained that the usual method of transferring panels involves opening the crates and transporting them one by one.
The families of the victims will receive compensation, and the authorities will ensure that the employer fulfills their responsibilities. A community gathering was held in Plaine-Verte for the funeral prayers of the three workers, and their bodies are expected to be repatriated to Bangladesh for a final farewell.
Key points
- The incident has raised concerns about workplace safety and the treatment of foreign workers in Mauritius.
- The labor ministry is investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident and the employer's safety protocols.
- The families of the victims will receive compensation and support from the authorities.
