Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A 43-year-old painter who had just married the day before tragically lost his life on his first day back at work when a crane basket cable snapped at a college construction site in Phatthalung province.

 

The fatal incident occurred around 09:00 on 2 August, at a six-storey college building in Mueang District. Police officers from Mueang Phatthalung Police Station, together with medics from Phatthalung Hospital and local rescue volunteers, were dispatched to the scene.

 

On arrival, emergency crews found the crane basket had fallen to the ground. Two workers had been inside the basket, which was being used to paint the upper levels of the building where traditional scaffolding could not reach. The cable supporting the basket had reportedly snapped mid-operation.

 

One of the workers, Mr. Chutidet aged 43, died instantly from the fall. His colleague, Mr. Thawatchai 38, sustained severe injuries and was rushed to Phatthalung Hospital for emergency treatment.

 

According to investigators, the college had hired a private contractor to complete construction and painting work on the building. As the painting crew could not access the fifth floor by scaffolding, a crane and suspended basket were used, reportedly for the first time that day. It was during this initial use that the incident occurred.

 

Mr. Kietisak 38, the crane operator, told police that he had instructed the workers to secure their safety harnesses, but suspected they had not done so due to unfamiliarity with the equipment.

 

The deceased man’s wife, Mrs. Natdee 44, was devastated. She revealed through tears that she and her husband had married only the day before, on 1 August and had not even spent 24 hours together as husband and wife before the tragedy struck.

 

“He promised to take care of me for life. Now he’s gone and I don’t know who I’ll rely on anymore,” she said.

 

Authorities are investigating the incident to determine whether safety protocols were properly followed and whether negligence played a role.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khoasod 2025-08-03

 

 

 

On 8/3/2025 at 3:36 AM, Georgealbert said:

The cable supporting the basket had reportedly snapped mid-operation.

Safety checks last

Another case of every victim loses out. 

20 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Safety checks last

Safety checks!!?? We all know the reaction to that question! 

dangerous jobs, man. 

 

On 8/3/2025 at 3:36 AM, Georgealbert said:

suspected they had not done so due to unfamiliarity with the equipment.

 

Save face, use equipment, lose life.

51 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Safety checks last

Thai's don't do maintenance....................., on anything

16 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

dangerous jobs, man. 

 

Our condo was getting fixed from the outside, that's some 40 floors, and the condition the of the ropes these "spidermen" as Thais call them, was worrying. I took several photos of the ropes and sent them to juristic to warn the contractors, not sure they actually did anything, but so far there hasn't been an accident, although just waiting for one to happen as this "rappelling for water damage" is a nearly a weekly affair.

 

Their equipment really needs to be checked before and after every job. If it snaps, they're dead. Thais don't take their safety very seriously. I used to have office in BB Asoke and it had this ditch with aircons and then about a meter tall wall around them on the outside. You'd see technicians walking on that wall with no protection whatsoever when checking the aircons. There was a 50+m drop if they lost balance. Had to tell our team to not move, not to startle the technician, worried he'd fall off... Amazing.

6 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

Our condo was getting fixed from the outside, that's some 40 floors, and the condition the of the ropes these "spidermen" as Thais call them, was worrying. I took several photos of the ropes and sent them to juristic to warn the contractors, not sure they actually did anything, but so far there hasn't been an accident, although just waiting for one to happen as this "rappelling for water damage" is a nearly a weekly affair.

 

Their equipment really needs to be checked before and after every job. If it snaps, they're dead. Thais don't take their safety very seriously. I used to have office in BB Asoke and it had this ditch with aircons and then about a meter tall wall around them on the outside. You'd see technicians walking on that wall with no protection whatsoever when checking the aircons. There was a 50+m drop if they lost balance. Had to tell our team to not move, not to startle the technician, worried he'd fall off... Amazing.

 

Small condo being build in Pattaya.

 

Young girl, two kids, one in a pushchair.

 

She was 4/5 floors up, flip flops, welding with just sunglasses, older kid 5 years old? running free......NO BARRIERS anywhere.

 

Could not watch.

On 8/3/2025 at 3:36 AM, Georgealbert said:

Mr. Kietisak 38, the crane operator, told police that he had instructed the workers to secure their safety harnesses, but suspected they had not done so due to unfamiliarity with the equipment.

Secure their harnesses to what , something outside of the basket ?

It's a sad situation.

We are having a house built.  For a week recenty I watched the workers walking around at height as they were creating the roof frame.  The pillars are 3.4 metres high and it's a solid concrete floor so it would be consequential if someone fell from that height.  As their employer, I could only watch and hope they would be fine. 

The roofers were the same (and the house is raised 1m so that would be a 4.4 metre drop).  Neither team made any attempt at minimising the risks.

Back in the UK, Health and Safety is a powerful influence, with serious fines for breaches.  Here, not so much...  I guess it's part of my cultural adaptation.
 

On 8/3/2025 at 3:36 AM, Georgealbert said:

when a crane basket cable snapped

 

Chinese made?

 

RIP newly wed.