A 39-year-old Pembroke man died yesterday afternoon after being trapped under a forklift at a Hamilton Parish construction site.

Few details surrounding the incident were available last night, however Police revealed the man was unresponsive upon their arrival to the scene and was pronounced dead by an on-call physician at 4.45 p.m.

The Royal Gazette understands the man, a father of one, was a British national and a mechanic at S.A.L.'s site on Wilkinson's Quarry in Duck's Puddle Drive, when the incident unfolded around 4 p.m. yesterday.

A Police spokesman said: "Around 4 p.m. on Monday, Police received a report of an industrial accident at a construction site on Coney Island Road in Hamilton Parish. Details about what occurred are unclear; however, initial information indicated that a construction worker was trapped under a forklift. The 39 year old Pembroke man was unresponsive at the time and was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene at 4:45 p.m. by an on call physician.

"The Government Health & Safety Officer was informed. No further information will be released until the next of kin has been notified," the spokesman said.

Alex DeCouto, President of Construction Association of Bermuda (CAOB) said workplace safety is something they take very seriously. "It's something we passionately ask our members to abide by and utilise our acts and regulations, but is still inherently risky business, which is why Government's Health and Safety Act looked so closely at construction," he said. In addition to providing members with guidance, CAOB have downloadable materials about safety for people to access at any time.

Mr. DeCouto said: "We take (safety) extremely seriously but at the end of the day it is inherently risky. I mean it's in the process of building something so you are having to take extensive measures to stay safe and to work safe.

"It's very unfortunate and my thoughts go out to this man's family," he added.

Members of the Bermuda Industrial Union were unavailable for comment last night.