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GLASS Sheets SLICE 2 Rekays Employees To Death
TWO employees of Rekays Building Supplies in Ndola died on the spot after the sheets of glass they were offloading from a truck fell on them.
One of the bodies had its neck chopped off while the other had several cuts on it.
Rekays management refused to comment on the incident and had even closed the building supplies shop.
Copperbelt deputy provincial police chief, Milner Muyambango and Ndola Central Hospital public relations officer, Sheona Chalimbana confirmed the incident to the Times yesterday monday 11/7.
The deceased were identified as Whiteson Mwandiya, aged 55 and Richard Kasongo aged 40.
Mr Muyambango said the incident happened around 13:30 hours while the two and four other employees of Rekays were offloading the sheets of glass from a Tanzanian truck at the company premises along President Avenue.
“They were huge sheets of glass and when the glass began to fall from the truck, the other four workers scampered for safety leaving the two who failed to provide a human shield to stop the glass from falling on them,” he said.
He said police had since opened inquiries into the accident.
A Times crew which rushed to the scene found the police and some employees of the company removing the two bodies from the trailer of the same delivery truck.
[Times of Zambia]
Posted by Editor
on November 8, 2011. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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muzo
November 8, 2011 at 9:33 am
sad indeed, honestly these guys need to be serious with safety issues. May they rest in peace.
ubanzakulanga
November 8, 2011 at 9:37 am
May their souls rest in eternal peace. amen!
Framuka
November 8, 2011 at 9:38 am
Glass sheets are supposed be offloaded by a forklifter. Workers are also supposed to be protected. Labour Minister, please move in and sort out the mess.
RB Bwesheni
November 8, 2011 at 9:39 am
Its sad that we keep losing our brothers like this. Most companies do not put safety measures as a prioriy. Please PF look into this issue.
My the souls of our departed brothers rest in internal peace
martcox
November 8, 2011 at 9:44 am
THIS IS NOW EXPOSING THE SO CALLED INVESTORS’LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ON SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.IN MOST CASES,OUR BROTHERS WORK UNDER VERY DIFFICULTY CONDITIONS.THEY WORK WHILE THEIR TUMMIES ARE EMPTY.LOOK AT THE SALARIES,IT IS ACTUALLY “CHANGE” SUCH THAT THEY CAN’T EVEN SUSTAIN FAMILIES FOR FIVE DAYS.THE LOADING AND OFF-LOADING IS USUALLY DONE WITH CLOSE SUPERVISION FROM THEIR SO CALLED MASTERS.IT IS SO SAD TO LOOSE LIFE IN THIS MANNER.WE FEEL FOR THEIR CHILDREN,WIVES AND MANY OF THE SURVIVING DEPENDANTS.WE SHARE THE GRIEF.
Chendabwanba
November 8, 2011 at 9:47 am
This is touching, i can imagine such a painful death, safety is what every 1 cry for, may their soul rest in peace.
spin
November 8, 2011 at 9:47 am
this is very sad ,this is a result of no labour inspectorate (active)thats why on certain mines or campanies u wil find an employee wearing a slipper on the left foot and a sniiker on the other sad indeed
Drug lord
November 8, 2011 at 9:58 am
Safety first, Glasses where supposed to be nicely covered on the sharp edges to avoid injuries to people handling them, secondly they must have used a crane or folk lift to off load the glasses.. That was man slaughter and someone should be answerable
rick tray
November 8, 2011 at 10:26 am
This a very sad development,the govt has to look seriosly into the safety of every employee in da land,not jus in da mines. May their souls rest in peace.
Mambo
November 8, 2011 at 10:43 am
Was there a safety officer on site? Please investigate….lives can not just be lost in vein. The owners should be held accountable.
One Time
November 8, 2011 at 10:59 am
VERY SAD NEWS INDEED. INVESTORS NEED TO RESPECT AND PROTECT OUR LIVES NOT THEIR MONEY. GOD, why should people die just because they are poor? Government please help us the poor souls. Its not our fault that we are poor.
owere
November 8, 2011 at 11:14 am
The people are indians who do not have a heart. they are only interested in money thats all. i hope and pray that the do compaset the families that have lost thier loved ones as Rekays makes makes a lot of money. I am sure Work mans compasation should also push on the compasation of the two families.
mukmo
November 8, 2011 at 11:22 am
these people have died while on duty but im sure their families are not going to get any compensation coz im sure they were casual workers and probably not even registered with workers compensation. can someone please look into the matter so that the bereaved are compensated
Tonga Steel
November 8, 2011 at 11:28 am
The labour exchange office in ndola is less than 50 metres away from Rekays!
Fuma mfume
November 8, 2011 at 11:35 am
Some people say “rest in peace” What does it mean. Does it mean that some there is also rest in trouble?
bazooka
November 8, 2011 at 11:50 am
Fuma mfume muleumfwa!!!ki ki ki ki kiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!Chiluba ni rest in Trouble en Mwanawasa its Rest in Peace.
Saying as it is
November 8, 2011 at 11:50 am
Since Sata openly dined with the Chinese who cares about labour laws? I remember when Sata was sworn in these so called investors were at the verge of packing their bags at the thought of how Sata would deal with them. Today, they are probably looking back and wondering what the fuss was all about? I know as humans we despise our ego to be challenged, but I can confidently say that Mr. President you have let our country down within the short space of time as Pres. Yes RB sucks, but your flip-flops and failure to deal with issues you promised to deal with during the campaigns sucks even more. No wonder some people choose not to exercise their right to vote to avoid disappointment.
ADRIAN
November 8, 2011 at 12:00 pm
shame
zed
November 8, 2011 at 12:10 pm
55 years offloading the sheets.That sounds like and old man to me doing that job..Rest in peace
embattled voter
November 8, 2011 at 12:11 pm
@Fuma mfume is that all you can think off surely?? Grow up man this is no joking matter people have died.If you don’t rest in peace then you are not at peace
M.L
November 8, 2011 at 12:17 pm
me i blame the government for not supervising these people or companies as they doing in government departments you find they have Board workers who are paid only K400,000 surely and they are blaming private companies for not caring there workers while the government is falling to do so you check in the colleges most of the workers are on the board why when they have worked for more than 10 years and above. come malcolm and see what is happening
Prisca MC
November 8, 2011 at 12:58 pm
Its a very sad development. Its true Rekays makes a lot of money and they should have used a folklift to offload those glasses. There is alot of casualisation at Rekays.Workers welfare should be looked after. They deserve better. Rest in peace brothers and condolences to the family.
ENOUGH
November 8, 2011 at 2:18 pm
This should been avioded had the govt put more preasure on these people not following our Zambian Labour laws.
OrgasmTembo
November 8, 2011 at 2:23 pm
You cant blame Rekays, you can blame the safety enforcement unit for the ministry. In such cases, their business is supposed to be closed for investigations; and the penalties and legal costs could bring down their business if government is serious. It goes back to the same basic step. If you do not care about your people, do you think other people will care about them? No chance!! Its ok to smile at people, but its not acceptable to sweep the dirt under teh carpet just because they are indian investors. For me, i would actually charge massive amounts to pay the families of these people. Billions of Kwacha!!
bomb
November 8, 2011 at 3:52 pm
Many of our people do not their rights as it is perceived, the only right they know is right to Vote, highly advertised. Let’s pause a while think thru some of the things we allow in this country, already wen zambezi airline was closed due to safety concern n some people rebeled against
Banakulu Pipo
November 8, 2011 at 4:00 pm
Right … no amount of money can bring back a life once lost, but at least give the families something reasonable that would see their children through school. And if charged lots and lots of money as compensation, these ‘investors’ would be more careful in the way their treat their workers in future. Its really sad.
Let us not grieve lyk the rest of da men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so it will be for those who died as christians, God will bring them to lyf with Jesus. My condolences to the berieved families of both workmates of m
November 8, 2011 at 7:20 pm
Let us not grieve lyk da rest of da men who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so it will be for those who died as christians, God will bring them back to lyf wit Jesus. My condolences to the berieved families of both work mates of mine, may God comfort them in His own Loving Kindness
Mulai de Citemppulou Edward
November 8, 2011 at 7:24 pm
Let us not grieve like the rest of the men who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so it will be for those who died as christians, God will bring them back to life wit Jesus. My condolences to the berieved families of both work mates of mine, may God comfort them in His own Loving Kindness
harry
November 9, 2011 at 7:04 am
when you hear the word safety most people think it only in the mine and most businesses think a safety officer is someone who makes their work difficult. after all if rekays had employed a safety officer this wouldnt have happend
there are Job Safety Analisis (JSA) Risk assesments work permits all this would have prevented the accident form happening if i was the government i would stop the opperations of rekays hardware store untill proper safety measures are put in place and i hope rekays will compasate the families of the deceased fully. safety is very important.
FATALITY RECORDED BY REKAYS
Ronaldo
November 9, 2011 at 11:18 am
This unfortunate accident has happened in the full glare of every one of us. I mean who hasn’t seen the way our brothers have been made to work like slaves in their own country by these shop owners ? Name them, Rekays, National Building Supplies, Micmar,and so on…..THIS MUST BE STOPPED !Our people are made to offload truck loads of heavy and dangerous items with their bare hands and made to carry on their heads. WE MUST BE ASHAMED AS A NATION. And to you the new govt, plz get cracking.
ram chandra singh
January 17, 2012 at 3:13 pm
i want to join in your organization.
ram chandra singh
January 17, 2012 at 3:15 pm
i am working in sheet glass manufacturing plant since 1984.in glass making & production department.