On Sunday, February 1, 2026, a team from Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) responded to an emergency report concerning an electrocution incident involving a male individual operating a Hiab truck beneath a 13.8kV transmission line.
Upon arrival at the scene, GPL personnel learned from local residents that the individual had been electrocuted prior to their response and was subsequently transported to the hospital for medical treatment.
A preliminary assessment conducted by the GPL team indicated that there was no damage to the electricity network, and the machinery involved in the incident was safely removed from the site. Following the assessment, the team visited the Charity Police Station and was informed that an official report regarding the incident had already been lodged.
In response to this incident, which is the second fatality in two weeks involving Hiab operations near electrical infrastructure, GPL’s Occupational Health and Safety Department, alongside a team from the Ministry of Labour and Manpower, will conduct a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The first incident occurred on January 26, 2026, when a contractor for One Communications (formerly GTT) reportedly came into contact with the magnetic field of a 69kV Line in the vicinity of Owen Street, Kitty.
In light of these unfortunate events, GPL is urging all contractors, operators, and members of the public to seek the necessary permissions and ensure proper supervision before undertaking work near GPL’s electricity network. This precautionary measure is critical to ensuring safety and preventing further accidents.
