Careless Construction Worker Causes Agonising........

[libya 115]

SOURCE: Pattaya Daily News: May 22nd 2007

CEMENT BAG FALLS ON ROOF; MANY WORKERS ARE INJURED IN PATTAYA

A careless construction contractor had no barrier to prevent materials from falling down. A cement bag fell on the roof and causing it to collapse. Many workers were injured

On the 19th May 2007, at 8:30 pm, Sawang Boriboon Rescue, Pattaya, was informed that a cement bag fell on the roof which is supposed to prevent objects from falling below.

The roof collapsed and injured many workers underneath. The incident was at "La Royal Beach" construction site, located at the southern end of Jomtien Beach, Moo 12, Na-Jomtien, Sattahip, Chonburi. The rescuers coordinated with police to investigate.

A high rise condominium is being constructed at the site. Five employees of K-Tech Construction Company were injured and were taken to Banglamung Hospital, Chonburi. They were Miss Thanaporn Luengsa-gna (34), Miss Pornthip Boonrueng (24), Mrs. Saengdao Meejaruen (24), Mr.Jakraphat Meekhun (26) and Miss Suwaree Yupiphit (20).

They sustained injuries to their heads and bodies.

A witness, Mr.Supaphong Boonpan (25), said that the K-Tech Company employees were working overtime to speed up construction.

While transferring a cement bag, weighing about 50 kilograms, to the lift, which was to bring it to the twenty-third floor, the cement bag suddenly fell on the roof which is supposed to prevent objects from falling down. However, the iron beam, structure of the roof collapsed and caused many workers underneath to be injured.

The police assumed that carelessness of the worker caused the cement bag to fall on the roof which is not up to proper construction standards. The iron beam and chipboard structure of the roof collapsed and injured many workers below. Police have asked the construction operator to investigate.

[Mid]

same old story ,

only news when someone gets hurt ................................

Edited May 22, 2007 by Mid

[Humphrey Bear]

If the bag had fallen without a protective roof, then one person may have been injured (seriously). But by putting up a poorly constructed protective shelter several people were injured.

Do it properly or don't do it at all.

And K-Tech were one of the better class contractors. The big boss died a couple of years ago - very good guy, contributed to many charities, oversaw his sites very well.

[jasperblubber2005]

the saddest part of this story will be that it will happen again and again and again, it just doesn't sink in, very sad

jasper

[PhilHarries]

Police have asked the construction operator to investigate.

If I'm reading this correct and it's not a mis-translation they are asking the construction company to investigate itself. The findings will make interesting reading - NOT!

[toptuan]

A major reason I always steer wide and clear of Thai construction sites, especially as a pedestrian. A couple years back I remember some kind of materials dropping off a freeway overpass that was being constructed in BKK, damaging a number of cars driving by on the ground level.

[Humphrey Bear]

A major reason I always steer wide and clear of Thai construction sites, especially as a pedestrian. A couple years back I remember some kind of materials dropping off a freeway overpass that was being constructed in BKK, damaging a number of cars driving by on the ground level.

Not just construction materials. When I was building Suvarnabhumi Airport one of the pick-ups, carrying a work crew along the elevated Bang Na - Trat (Chonburi, really) Expressway, hit the parapet and threw the guys sitting in the back of the pick-up over onto the road below. Four killed.

Driver was playing "It's Raining Men" on the radio at the time.

By the way - on another response - it is quite normal for the contractor to carry out the initial investigation of any site accident. He has the trained safety officers and all the procedures in place to do so. All findings submitted to the proper authorities and any further actions taken by them.

In the case of K-Tech I am sure that this will be properly carried out. One of the few contractors in Thailand that will normally follow the rules.

[PhilHarries]

In the case of K-Tech I am sure that this will be properly carried out. One of the few contractors in Thailand that will normally follow the rules.

I'll take your word for it HB, I've no experience with K-Tech either direct or indirect.

It's just that all too often with safety issues the final report concludes that either the accident didn't happen or it happened off site. I remember a case where a worker lost a couple of toes, no safety boots, and it was later concluded that he was actually on holiday when the "accident" happened. This sort of thing is not confined to Thailand and I always view very sceptically these construction site signs "XX million manhours without a lost time incident".

Anyway as the bag of cement was dropped while loading into the elevator to go up to the 23rd floor it would have been a whole lot worse if it dropped from the 23rd floor.

[Humphrey Bear]

In the case of K-Tech I am sure that this will be properly carried out. One of the few contractors in Thailand that will normally follow the rules.

It's just that all too often with safety issues the final report concludes that either the accident didn't happen or it happened off site. I remember a case where a worker lost a couple of toes, no safety boots, and it was later concluded that he was actually on holiday when the "accident" happened. This sort of thing is not confined to Thailand and I always view very sceptically these construction site signs "XX million manhours without a lost time incident".

Anyway as the bag of cement was dropped while loading into the elevator to go up to the 23rd floor it would have been a whole lot worse if it dropped from the 23rd floor.

I agree with you - one job in Singapore - major US/UK company doing work for an oil company (even more major) - had a very bad accident, local worker broke his back, but was not reported for three weeks so that they could report 3 million man-hours without LTA/LTI, which was a milestone both parties wanted to achieve. The guy was put on sick-leave, vacation, just not reported until they had achieved their milestone. Then minimal compensation. His family received nothing while he was on leave.