It was just another day on the job for a St Mary man, who had been living in Mile End, St Ann for several years.
He was expected to successfully strip the deck off a roof that he had done in July. However, tragedy struck last Friday afternoon, when the decking collapsed on him, pinning him to the wall.
He was killed instantly.
The man has been identified as 42-year-old Hugh Bailey, popularly known as ‘Yellow’ of Mile End district in St Ann.
The incident occurred at around 3:30 a.m. on Friday, August 19.
Bailey, who was described as a quiet person, is understood to be originally from Islington, St Mary, but has called Mile End his home for several years.
He was not known to have any family members living in the Mile End community.
The police are said to be investigating the matter.
According to councillor for the Beecher Town division, Ian ‘Trumpet’ Bell, he was not convinced that all the building codes were observed when the decking of the roof was fabricated and cast.
“I believe it was poor judgment on the part of the builder resulting in the collapse of the piece of decking while it was being stripped,” Bell explained while speaking to North Coast Times in an interview.
In the meantime, Bell, who is also chairman of the physical planning and environmental control committee, urged persons constructing buildings to ensure that the St Ann Parish Council, other parish councils and other local authorities are informed, so that respectful building officers can do the various inspections necessary.
“The St Ann Parish Council has several building officers ready and available to assist all our construction sites across the parish, whether it is a commercial, industrial or residential site… Our technical team is properly trained and the Council must be called upon at all times to have these building officers to inspect and recommend where they find it necessary,” Bell argued.
According to Mr Bell, in recent months, there have been similar problems with decking at a recently constructed section of a major hotel in St Ann. He further noted that the situation is seen at major building sites, when there is a rush to complete these properties.
In the meantime, Bell offered his condolences to the family of Bailey in their time of grief with the news of his tragic end.
