The Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security (MTESS) intervened at the company LPG Emprendimientos S.A. on Monday, following the fatal explosion of a barge on the Paraguay River that killed five workers last Saturday.
Inspectors and Occupational Health technicians from the ministry were at the company's headquarters to investigate the causes of the accident and verify whether safety protocols for high-risk tasks, such as cleaning fuel tanks, were being followed.
Luis Centurión, director of Occupational Health and Safety at the MTESS, stated that the technical team will work together with the Directorate of Inspection and Oversight to cross-reference data and expert reports. "The objective is to determine the cause of the accident and establish the corresponding administrative measures in accordance with current regulations," he declared.
The accident occurred on Saturday morning at the mooring area in the zone known as Zanja H, in the locality of Beterete Cué, Villa Hayes, in the Presidente Hayes department. According to the forensic doctor for the Public Ministry, Dr. Augusto Schachat, three of the workers died at the scene due to "severe cranioencephalic trauma with explosive brain matter expulsion caused by a violent explosion."
The other two workers were rescued alive by firefighters but succumbed hours later due to the severity of burns and internal injuries, after being admitted to the Central Hospital of the Social Security Institute (IPS).