3 boys burnt by hot cement plant waste

Zim Now Writer

Three young boys, aged 11, 12, and 14, suffered severe burns on Friday after falling into a dumpsite containing hot waste material disposed of by cement maker, Pretoria Portland Cement at its Colleen Bawn plant.

The boys were taken to Mater Dei hospital in Bulawayo and are currently receiving treatment for their injuries.

PPC Head of Operations and Projects, Mavellas Sibanda said that the company had sent its industrial safety and occupational health staff to assist the injured boys and their families.

Said Sibanda: “PPC Zimbabwe Limited regrets to advise of the injury of three non-employees at Colleen Bawn.

“The incident occurred around 1700hrs on Friday, January 13, 2023, he said at an industrial dumpsite on the Western side of the Colleen Bawn Plant, which the company operates.”

According to the PPC senior manager, two of the injured persons, accidentally jumped into the dumpsite, sustaining burns from hot materials in the dumpsite, while the third sustained burns on the arms while trying to assist the other two injured persons.

The company said it had reportedly assisted with all medical support required, adding that the report from the doctors attending them, said boys were in stable condition.