Man killed after falling into pulper

He has been identified as a 59 year old Malawian national, Lasford Chapinda Sintialo, and was employed at the company for two and a half years.

CCTV footage at the premises capture the moment where Mr Sintialo was knocked into the pulper following what is believed to have been a lapse of concentration.

Colleagues were unaware of the accident but noticed Sintialo’s absence from the section he was working on. They immediately started searching for him and only discovered his body approximately 40 minutes later.

Workers were in shock and notified management immediately upon which the police and fire and rescue were dispatched to the scene.

The machine was not running at the time and the exact cause of death is yet to be fully determined and confirmed by the local pathologist. Initial speculation suggests that he could have died from the impact on his head as he fell down, or possibly from drowning in the water in the Pulper.

Mr Sintialo was a pulping operator and loved by his fellow colleagues. The accident has shocked management and staff of R&F Tissue Mills as this has never happened since the establishment in 2000.

Management said in a statement : “Preliminary investigations showed that Lasford was not wearing a harness as per our safety requirements. The harness was attached to the framework which would have prevented him from falling into the Pulper had he worn it”. Management added that the safety of the workers remains a priority to them and they will continue to ensure workers adhere to the on-site safety procedures.

Management stated that they were deeply saddened at the loss of Mr Sintialo and described him as a hard worker who never missed a day of work.

Funeral arrangements for the deceased are being arranged with the family but nothing final was confirmed at the time of going to print.

R & F Tissue Mills would like to express their deepest condolences to all family and friends who knew Mr Sintialo.