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Two workers from Empresa Labiofam in Villa Clara lost their lives on Tuesday after asphyxiating from toxic gases inside a molasses tank they were ordered to clean, as reported on Facebook by the Villa Clara journalist Francisnet Díaz Rondón, who was a personal friend of one of the victims.
Díaz Rondón, a journalist for the official newspaper Vanguardia of Santa Clara, published the text on Wednesday, June 17, the same day he attended his friend's burial at the cemetery in that city.
A deadly trap in the workplace
According to the communicator, one of the deceased - named Luis Díaz and known to everyone as "Yunior" - was sent to clean a tank of flea honey — a Cuban term for molasses, a byproduct of sugarcane — when the gases accumulated inside began to suffocate him.
“The concentrated toxic gases began to suffocate him, his strength waned, and he could not escape that deadly trap,” wrote Díaz Rondón.
The worst part is that a colleague tried to rescue him and also died in the process.
"Even more painful was that another friend and colleague, Eduardo, came to help him and also perished on the spot. Two lives lost, orphaned children, partners left shattered, and two families in mourning due to a workplace accident that should never have happened," lamented the journalist.
It is important to note that molasses can ferment and produce gases such as carbon dioxide, which, being heavier than air, can accumulate at the bottom of closed tanks and displace oxygen, causing asphyxiation within minutes.
International regulations for confined spaces require prior ventilation, gas measurement, and protective equipment before any entry.
"The 'Before...' is more important than the 'After...'."
Without directly pointing to the direction of Labiofam, Díaz Rondón reflected on the avoidability of the tragedy.
“Although situations that are perfectly preventable are sometimes labeled as accidents, because for any risky task, all the measures and protections are never enough. In these matters, the 'Before...' is more important than the 'After...'”, he noted.
The journalist described Yunior as a noble and hardworking man from Cascajal.
"Yunior was an tireless fighter to provide the best well-being for his family. When he had no commitments at Labiofam, he would go out on the streets to sell cilantro, ají cachucha, and other spices. Earning a living with honesty," Francisnet pointed out.
The communicator from Villa Clara also detailed the circumstances in which he and his now-deceased friend had met.
The outrage on social media
The publication sparked a wave of questions regarding the lack of security measures at the company.
"What a tragic event and what irresponsibility from that company for not taking the necessary measures to protect the lives of two workers!" wrote a commenter.
"Undoubtedly, they are avoidable. How much pain for their family due to someone else's negligence"; "And what about the responsible parties?"; "Sometimes accidents aren’t really accidents," wrote other internet users.
“A very sad loss, a great man with great values. Luis left a mark in every corner where he lived and worked,” wrote one of those who knew him.
As of the conclusion of this report, no further information is available regarding the circumstances of the unfortunate incident. Neither the company from Villa Clara nor official media outlets have made any reference to the tragic event.
A recurring pattern
This accident is not an isolated incident. In recent years, in line with the worsening economic crisis in Cuba, the number of workplace accidents in the country has surged, unfortunately with several being fatal, especially in the electrical sector.
In recent days, the electrician Osmani Rosales Núñez died electrocuted in Cárdenas, Matanzas, while repairing a malfunction.
This is joined by another recent tragic accident: on May 26, two people died in Baracoa from inhaling toxic gases from a pump while cleaning a well, in circumstances almost identical to those described by Francisnet in the Labiofam case.
The statistical context is alarming: according to the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), in 2024, there were 934 workplace accidents in Cuba and 52 deaths -one per week- with a mortality rate that increased by almost 60% compared to the previous year.
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