Scholarship News

Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines (AHN) – Ten construction workers plunged to their death Thursday noon when the cables of the improvised elevator they were using snapped, causing the gondola to collapse mid-air. The accident led to the indefinite suspension of work at the 39-story Eton Residences Greenbelt building in Makati, the Philippines’ central financial district.

The workers, on their way down from the upper floors for lunch, fell from the 34th floor to the seventh floor. Two of them landed on the street pavement.

It appears overloading was the cause of the accident because the gondola measuring about 1 by 3 meters could only hold about two to three workers. The gondola had three men when it moved down from the 34th floor. Seven more boarded the elevator when it stopped at the 17th floor, causing the lift to collapse upon reaching the 10th floor.

One worker survived the fall, 10 died instantly. All 11 were workers of E.M. Pinon, the subcontractor of ARLO Aluminum, the contractor in charge of installing glass windows on the building. The sole survivor is confined at the Ospital ng Makati, where he underwent surgery.

The accident led the Labor Department to issue immediately a suspension order on the project while the agency conducts an investigation into the cause of the accident. Among the causes being eyed are overloading, lack of permit to operate the service elevator and lack of safety devices. All of the 11 workers were apparently not wearing safety helmets and harnesses, as mandated by law.

While maintaining it follows and enforces safety regulations in all its projects. Eton Properties promised to review compliance with safety regulations. Eton said this is the first accident among the 27 buildings it has constructed.

Even if the ill-fated workers were employees of the subcontractor, Eton Properties – owned by business tycoon Lucio Tan – vowed to extend financial assistance to the accident victims.

Construction accidents are common in the Philippines because of lack of safety inspections by government regulators and some developers cutting corners by not providing safety equipment. Construction workers also are to blame for often violating safety regulations in spite of warnings and reminders from supervisors.

In the past few months, similar accidents have been reported in different construction sites in major urban centers that are enjoying a construction boom.

The accident and the Tuesday bus bombing, which also happened in Makati, led the city government to declare Friday a day of mourning.

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