Substandard slings used in Ayutthaya bridge that collapsed
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Reporting progress in the investigation into the collapse of a suspension bridge that killed five people in Ayutthaya's Tha Rua district in April, Assistant National Police Commissioner Lt General Jaramporn Suramanee said that substandard slings had been used for the construction of the bridge.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Jaramporn said the slings were designed to carry a maximum weight of just 14.664 tonnes.

"In fact, according to specifications of the construction project, the slings should have been able to hold a weight of between 23.9 and 25.9 tonnes," he said.

Tambon Tha Luang Municipality had paid Bt8.92 million for the bridge's construction, which was completed on July 5 last year, said Jaramporn. The construction company had offered a two year guarantee on its work, but after damage was detected, it had failed to respond to repeated requests that it carry out repairs, he added. The requests were made on December 17 last year, then on January 7, February 26 and April 22 this year.

Tha Rua Police Station superintendent Pol Col Jitakasem Sonkham said police were continuing to gather evidence in the case. He declined to reveal exactly who would be charged for the fatal collapse.

"We will summon at least 10 people for further questioning," he said.


-- The Nation 2013-07-24

Damage is detected on a brand new, government-inspected bridge and all the while the bridge is open for public use, all paperwork in order? I can only wonder how many more "requests" would have been made for "repairs" of a structure only half as strong as it should be had it not collapsed.

"We will summon at least 10 people for further questioning," he said. Let the bidding begin.

This is the problem when a contractor has to pay between 30 - 50% of the contract value on non-contract related costs before he even starts the contract. I am quite honestly surprised that this unfortunate news is not a daily item.

So; if they were requesting repairs they already knew it was dangerous for public use so why wasn't it closed ? Also; if the builders were ignoring requests why weren't they raided and shut down as their 'dereliction of duty' was endangering the public ? The Public Officials who were responsible for safety are just as much responsible for Manslaughter as the builders, so why aren't they arrested ? The least they could have done was closed the bridge and the most they could have done was authorised another construction company to affect the required repairs and billed the first company for it. But wait; i just remembered that Human life means so little in the 'land of shame'.

They only offered a 2 year guarantee? Lucky it fell over inside the guarantee period. Maybe when it's rebuilt they should inquire about an "extenda guarantee". I'm sure for only an extra 1,000 baht they could get an extended 5 year warranty.

Honestly, what a pack of muppets to use slings that are nearly 50% less than the plan specifications. A simple comparison is using 2" nail instead of a 4" nail - it should be as obvious as hell to the constructor that they didn't even look right.

They only offered a 2 year guarantee? Lucky it fell over inside the guarantee period. Maybe when it's rebuilt they should inquire about an "extenda guarantee". I'm sure for only an extra 1,000 baht they could get an extended 5 year warranty.

Honestly, what a pack of muppets to use slings that are nearly 50% less than the plan specifications. A simple comparison is using 2" nail instead of a 4" nail - it should be as obvious as hell to the constructor that they didn't even look right.

obvious as hell - yes, but you're assuming that they actually give a xxxx about anything other than money . . . which they don't. No one here does.

This is the problem when a contractor has to pay between 30 - 50% of the contract value on non-contract related costs before he even starts the contract. I am quite honestly surprised that this unfortunate news is not a daily item.

shttt there are still people here who like the corruption buying themselves out of trouble, saying how much easier it is to get away from speeding tickets and drunk driving. They don't see that its all part of the corruption that eat this country like a cancer. That makes it totally uncontrollable and lacking justice for people. This construction company probably did not have enough ties higher up else we would never have heard a thing again.

It is not unusual for the contractor which builds any think, to cut cost and not follow the designers specifications. Factories have collapsed, bridges not able to hold the weight, airports have taxi ways crack before the airport opened. Environmental and health impact statements not completed. Politicians demanding money before contract is given. Each bidder paying money to get the contract, but the contract was not given to the lowest bidder, but to the company that paid the most to the politician. all in the way of doing business. This is not only Thailand, but all countries. Billions of dollars provided for infrastructure projects, that were shovel ready, money gone no projects started.

Correct materials 1 million, substandard materials used because of 30% given to local officials-- paid monies 600k ??? speaks for it'self. Stinks for sure --losers public winners officials.

shttt there are still people here who like the corruption buying themselves out of trouble, saying how much easier it is to get away from speeding tickets and drunk driving. They don't see that its all part of the corruption that eat this country like a cancer. That makes it totally uncontrollable and lacking justice for people. This construction company probably did not have enough ties higher up else we would never have heard a thing again.

The only difference between corruption in Thailand and corruption in the so called "developped world" is, that it starts here at the bottom of the line, which I personally prefer instead of being only at the top. If you don't realise that corruption is everywhere in the world than it's about time to wake up.

Off topic posts and replies have been removed.

This is the problem when a contractor has to pay between 30 - 50% of the contract value on non-contract related costs before he even starts the contract. I am quite honestly surprised that this unfortunate news is not a daily item.

Working in rigging business , and seeing the things I see, it is or should be a daily item, but nobody wants to talk about it, everybody knows and has seen everything.

I remember one training where someone told me I should adapt my trainings a bit to local habits, this was not PNG, I replyed 1 ton here is the same 1 ton in Europe , USA , Australia and here. Reaction a big smile.

This is the problem when a contractor has to pay between 30 - 50% of the contract value on non-contract related costs before he even starts the contract. I am quite honestly surprised that this unfortunate news is not a daily item.

Working in rigging business , and seeing the things I see, it is or should be a daily item, but nobody wants to talk about it, everybody knows and has seen everything.

I remember one training where someone told me I should adapt my trainings a bit to local habits, this was not PNG, I replyed 1 ton here is the same 1 ton in Europe , USA , Australia and here. Reaction a big smile.

Big smile because you were wrong! An American Ton is a short ton the UK, Europe and Canada use Metric Tons or Tonnes. If you need a sling rated to European Tons (Tonnes) and you buy an American sling rated for say 10 tons it is only good for 9.07 Tons (Tonnes) in Europe.

1 ton = 2000 lb ~= 907kg~= 0.907 Tonne

1 tonne = 1000kg ~= 2205lb ~= 1.102 ton

This is the problem when a contractor has to pay between 30 - 50% of the contract value on non-contract related costs before he even starts the contract. I am quite honestly surprised that this unfortunate news is not a daily item.

Working in rigging business , and seeing the things I see, it is or should be a daily item, but nobody wants to talk about it, everybody knows and has seen everything.

I remember one training where someone told me I should adapt my trainings a bit to local habits, this was not PNG, I replyed 1 ton here is the same 1 ton in Europe , USA , Australia and here. Reaction a big smile.

Big smile because you were wrong! An American Ton is a short ton the UK, Europe and Canada use Metric Tons or Tonnes. If you need a sling rated to European Tons (Tonnes) and you buy an American sling rated for say 10 tons it is only good for 9.07 Tons (Tonnes) in Europe.

1 ton = 2000 lb ~= 907kg~= 0.907 Tonne

1 tonne = 1000kg ~= 2205lb ~= 1.102 ton

Give the guy a break. The intention of the poster was correct - he was implying that a capacity of a piece of equipment for lifting or bearing weight doesn't change just because you're in a 3rd world country.

"So; if they were requesting repairs they already knew it was dangerous for public use so why wasn't it closed ? Also; if the builders were ignoring requests why weren't they raided and shut down as their 'dereliction of duty' was endangering the public ?"

Play country, play government.

So big organisations in Thailand have the same trouble we all do at the domestic level in not being able to negotiate retention payments and not being able to get tradesmen back to correct for bodge-job building! Thailand - the hub of bodge!

Maybe it is ironical but in Australia a sling is another name for a under table payment or a bribe , as well as the lifting straps for a crane etc.