DOLE halts construction project in Manila amid death of worker on-site

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has ordered a construction company to stop its development project in Sampaloc, Manila as one of its workers died after being crushed by a detached cement crane cable.

In a statement on Tuesday, DOLE said a Work Stoppage Order (WSO) was issued to Momentum Construction and Development Corporation.

The order, issued by DOLE National Capital Region (NCR) Regional Director Sarah Buena Mirasol on Monday, was given to the company and its subcontractors based on the results of an investigation on the accident that killed the construction worker Sunday morning.

READ: Construction site accident kills worker in Manila

DOLE identified the victim as Jhon Erick Marcoso, a steel man hired by a subcontractor engaged in the operations of Momentum Construction.

According to DOLE, the investigating team noted that the incident “showed the existence of the grave and imminent danger to the health and safety of the workers” as it pointed out the firm’s multiple occupational safety and health (OSH) violations.

“Among the violations noted in the investigation include the non-registration of the establishment under Rule 1020, lack of OSH program, inadequate number of safety officers, lack of 8-hour mandatory OSH orientation to all workers, lack of occupational health physicians, and inadequate safety signages,” DOLE said.

“Also, non-provision of safety measures when operating machines and lack of defined procedure in performing hazardous workers were also noted in the stoppage order,” it further explained.

It was also found that the company’s subcontractors are not registered with the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board as it also failed to submit all of its workers’ Safety and Health Organization and Annual Medical Reports.

Meanwhile, DOLE’s NCR office has assured it will extend assistance to the victim’s family. /kga