A Cuban electrical worker tragically lost his life this Thursday while performing maintenance tasks with his crew in Havana. The deceased, identified as Edisvey Rolando Pérez Rodríguez, was a 32-year-old lineman affiliated with the company from Sancti Spíritus. His passing was confirmed by the Unión Eléctrica through their social media channels.
"We extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of lineman Edisvey Rolando Pérez Rodríguez, aged 32, who passed away in a workplace accident while performing maintenance tasks with the Sancti Spíritus electrical company's brigade in the capital," announced the Unión Eléctrica (UNE) in a statement that included an image of a mourning black ribbon.
Challenging Conditions for Maintenance Crews
This incident highlights a recurring issue in Cuba, where due to the ongoing energy crisis, crews from various provinces are sent to Havana to assist with maintenance and service restoration tasks. These workers often face unfamiliar environments and increased pressure.
Recurring Tragedies in the Cuban Electrical Sector
Pérez Rodríguez's death adds to a series of tragedies in Cuba's electrical sector. Earlier in June, Osmani Rosales Núñez, an employee of the Cárdenas Electrical Company, died after receiving an electric shock while conducting repairs in the Tenería area of Matanzas.
In late July, Santiago de Cuba mourned the loss of Ulises Cos Ferrer, a veteran lineman and brigade leader who, despite retiring, continued to work as an instructor at the provincial electrical company's Training School.
In September 2025, Cleivi Pujada Castro died while working on a 7.8 kV line in Artemisa. Just days before, Carlos Rafael López Ibarra, a 33-year-old turbine operator at the Renté thermoelectric plant, succumbed to injuries after suffering burns over 89% of his body.
Unsafe Working Conditions
Since 2022, at least six lineman fatalities have been documented across various provinces in Cuba. Reports from 2026 detail the dire conditions under which Cuban electrical linemen operate: worn-out gloves, helmets, harnesses, and ladders; vehicles with mechanical issues; shortages of fuel, transformers, and conductors; and grueling work hours.
Even the UNE acknowledged in July the immense pressure faced by its workers, publicly urging the public to offer them "a glass of water or a small coffee" as a gesture of appreciation.
According to 2025 data from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), the Electricity, Gas, and Water sector accounted for five workplace fatalities out of a national total of 38 deaths and 701 injuries that year, underscoring the high human cost of maintaining a collapsing electrical system.
Understanding the Challenges in Cuba's Electrical Sector
Why are maintenance crews sent from provinces to Havana?
Due to the energy crisis in Cuba, provincial crews are dispatched to Havana to assist with maintenance and service restoration, often working under increased pressure and unfamiliar conditions.
What are the working conditions like for Cuban electrical linemen?
Cuban electrical linemen often work with outdated equipment, face vehicle issues, fuel shortages, and endure long, strenuous hours in precarious conditions.
How many fatalities have occurred in the Cuban electrical sector recently?
Since 2022, there have been at least six documented fatalities among linemen across various provinces in Cuba.