A deadly industrial explosion at a garage connected to the headquarters of Guardsman Group-Beryllium Limited in Kingston, Jamaica has left one person dead and three others with life-threatening third-degree burns, prompting an emergency medical evacuation to specialized overseas treatment facilities. The blast, which occurred on Wednesday at the South Camp Road location, sent shockwaves through the local workforce, triggering a rapid coordinated response from the company and Jamaican burn care organizations.
On Thursday afternoon, as the three injured men awaited transfer at Norman Manley International Airport, Guardsman Group Chairman Kenny Benjamin reaffirmed the company’s commitment to prioritizing its employees amid the tragedy. “Our entire operation is rooted in people – that is the core of our business, that is how we succeed. Every member of our team matters deeply, so we came together immediately to do everything in our power to support them,” Benjamin said during his visit to the airport, where he led a corporate response team to check on the victims and coordinate immediate support.
Deputy Chairman Nicholas Benjamin expanded on the company’s response, noting that organizational leadership has guaranteed full coverage for all necessary medical care, regardless of whether that care is accessed locally or abroad. “We suffered a terrible incident at one of our on-site facilities, and tragically multiple workers suffered severe burn injuries. Working alongside Stephen Josephs and his team at the Burn Foundation, we are arranging emergency airlift to the United States to get these men the world-class specialized care they urgently need,” he explained.
Nicholas emphasized that rapid intervention is non-negotiable for severe burn patients, making the immediate evacuation the top priority for the response team. He also shared details on the four affected workers: the deceased victim and three surviving injured men worked in a range of roles at the facility, including garage manager, operations team member, welder, and air conditioning technician.
For Vivene Barret, mother of injured worker Damian Walters, the severity of her son’s injuries is overwhelming – she rated his burns as a 10 out of 10 in an interview with Jamaica Observer, speaking through tears. Even amid her fear and grief, however, Barret expressed sincere gratitude for the rapid, comprehensive support the company has extended to all those affected by the blast. “I can’t put into words how thankful I am for what they are doing, for my son and for every other person impacted by this,” she said.
Stephen Josephs, head of the Jamaica Burn Foundation, confirmed that the three airlifted patients will receive care at two leading U.S. burn treatment centers: one facility in California, and the specialized JMS Burn Centre in Atlanta, Georgia. As investigations into the cause of the blast continue, the company has reiterated that it will stand by all affected workers and their families through every step of recovery.