SBMA lifts Hanjin suspension

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has allowed Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp.-Philippines (HHIC-Phil) to resume operations at its Assembly Shop C on Friday after investigators concluded that the death of a worker last July 12 was accidental.

SBMA officials reported that health and safety investigators had concluded last week that the death of Benjie Gamolo, a structural erector with more than five years of experience in his job, was an accident.

The clearance for Hanjin was given by the SBMA on Friday, five days after the agency issued a cease-and-desist order (CDO) to stop operations at the site of the accident.

Atty. Ramon Agregado, SBMA senior deputy administrator for support services, said the order was to be effective for seven days, but the suspension was lifted as soon as the agency’s Public Health and Safety Department (PHSD) concluded its comprehensive inspection of the facility.

Agregado pointed out that the order “was made precisely to determine whether the shop was safe for the conduct of further operations.”

He said that the PHSD’s findings and recommendations, which were presented to the SBMA board on Friday, indicated that operations could be resumed.

According to a presentation that detailed the investigators’ findings, the accident occurred while a crew, which included Gamolo, was installing an eight-ton girder – the last scheduled for their shift – as it was starting to rain.

Investigators said that all the members in Gamolo’s crew had “extensive experience” and were wearing complete personal protective equipment, including hard hats, gloves, safety shoes, and safety belts.

Gamolo was talking with the crane operator through the use of “international standard hand signals,” said investigators.

The investigators said the crew, who had been working for nine hours at the time, “was trying to finish the installation before the weather worsened.”

Probers also found out that only six persons were stabilizing the eight-ton girder that hit Gamolo.

The investigators concluded that while Gamolo’s death had been caused by an accident, there should be a better procedure to ensure the stability of girders while they are being installed, as well as a way to improve communication between the signalman and the crane operator.

They also recommended that a review of work procedures be made to avoid multi-tasking, and to review the number of hours that workers had to complete in a shift.

Hanjin had reportedly issued a 15-day suspension against Han Sung starting July 13, aside from the CDO issued by the SBMA against the subcontractor on July 14.     – With Bebot Sison