Skyway project owner, contractors liable for Muntinlupa mishap – DOLE exec

This November 21, 2020, photo shows a tilted crane along the East Service road in Cupang, Muntinlupa City, after the steel girder it was carrying fell into passing vehicles leaving one person dead and four others injured. The steel girder, spanning the length of two electrical posts, was part of a skyway being built in the area when it crashed into three vehicles and two motorcycles.
INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — The owner and contractors of the Skyway Extension project are liable for the accident that killed one person and injured four others, a Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) official said Monday.

DOLE’s occupational safety and health center Executive Director Noel Binag said the project proponents “failed” to identify hazards on the collapse of a steel girder from the portion of the Skyway project.

“Obviously, they failed to identify hazards. Obviously, it was not properly controlled. It is always the assumption that every time they start a construction activity, they should have meetings. Every day, they need to identify potential hazards in the workplace to make the necessary assessment and necessary control,” Binag said in a televised briefing.

“In this situation, I believe they were not able to assess the situation on the ground that’s why they were not able to anticipate the hazards that are potentially harmful to our workers,” he added.

READ: 1 dead, 4 injured as Skyway steel girder collapses, falls on vehicles in Muntinlupa

Binag said the project owner, main contractor, and sub-contractor are all liable under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

“Siguro sa korte po ‘yung negligence resulting to homicide. Maaari po sa DOLE, kung meron silang administrative case, pwede po namin sila issuehan ng work stoppage order,” Binag said.

(They can be sued in court for negligence resulting in homicide. Under DOLE, if they have an administrative case, we can issue them a work stoppage order.)

Binag said a fine of P20,000 to P100,000, depending on their violations, may also be imposed.

San Miguel Corp., a project proponent, already apologized to victims and families of the Skyway project accident and vowed that they will extend assistance. https://business.inquirer.net/312316/ramon-ang-apologizes-assures-help-to-victims-of-skyway-mishap

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