In the wake of the death of Bermuda Electric Light Company technician Malik Blyden, an employee reported that a gas generator blew up on Monday afternoon.

Mr. Blyden, 24, died on Monday morning in Johns Hopkins University Hospital, in Baltimore, Maryland, after sustaining second and third degree burns to over 50 percent of his body.

Belco media relations officer Susan McGrath-Smith said that the cause of the generator explosion was being investigated. The worker, who did not want to be named, claimed conditions were abysmal at the Belco plant and the company was not following safety regulations.

"The turbine that blew up, blew a hole through the roof of its housing and showered debris over 200 yards away," said the employee.

"There was one piece of razor sharp metal that was 18 inches long and six inches wide and other debris was showered along Cemetery Road. There was a small fire and workers put it out and the Fire Service was not called. The housing around the turbine was steel and it blew threw that."

The man explained that the turbine was located between Cemetery Road and Gorham's employee parking lot and that the incident happened about 2 p.m.

He said: "People think that Belco has a strong safety ethic, but they don't. All of us have been saying - it was only a matter of time before one of us was hurt or died. Fortunately no one was hurt in this explosion."

Ms McGrath-Smith said: "It was a mechanical failure and they are investigating what caused it. It was one of the smaller generators."

The man, who was worried about his safety, said there were crumbling walls around the old plant. "Pieces of block fall down over the engines and related equipment - the building is crumbling to pieces," the man said. "If they didn't give out so much overtime - no one would work here.

"The company seems to be more interested in profit, than safety. The only part of Belco that is up to par on safety regulations is the new section.

"The explosion (the) GT3c (unit) was a mechanical failure, but there is only a matter of time before something else more serious happens. It's just a shame that someone had to die."