22/04/24

A 51 year old conveyor operator at PLR Manganese Smelting Company Henry Mwenda died after being pulled by conveyor belts into the machine. The accident happened on 21/04/2024 around 19:30 hours at the smelting plant located in Pensulo, Serenje.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the deceased reported on duty at 14:00 hours as an operator.

While feeding raw Manganese into the feeder around 19:30 hours, he did not respond to a signal to start the machine after tippers loaded with manganese offloaded in the next feed.

This made his workmates to check on him, and he was found dead and stuck in the machine. A check on the body revealed that the conveyor belt pulled him by the right arm into the machine.

He sustained a broken right hand, bruises on the chest and face, and was also bleeding from the nose and mouth.

The body of the deceased is lying in the Serenje hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem.

CHARITY MUNGANGA
COMMISSIONER – CENTRAL