Worker dies, 3 others hurt in Subic shipyard accident

Hanjin shipyard at Subic town in Zambales province. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) in Central Luzon has ordered a subcontractor of Korean shipbuilder, Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp.-Philippines, at Subic Bay Freeport in Zambales province, to stop work after a worker died and three others were hurt on May 12.

Zenaida Angara-Campita, Dole Central Luzon director, issued a stop order to Binictican I-Tech Corp. on May 15, after receiving an accident investigation report by the agency.

Campita said four workers fell from a scaffolding on Saturday, at the shipyard’s Dockheed 6 P11-A02C.

Before the incident, investigators learned that nine workers spent their break under the scaffolding. Ferdinand Leuterio, a worker, died due to internal injuries, while Gerry Bayuta, Johnny Alegre and Vailian de la Cruz were treated at a hospital in Subic town, Zambales.

Dole’s safety inspectors reported that the “concentrated weight of the workers and raw materials and equipment” might have caused the scaffold to tilt before it crashed.

Only two workers were authorized to work in that area, the inspectors learned. They also observed that the bolt of the scaffolding’s bracket was cut.

Campita said the subcontractor failed to strictly implement and monitor safety procedures. —Tonette Orejas