Construction suspended after worker falls to death

CEBU, Philippines — The Office of the Building Official (OBO) has issued a work suspension order on a construction site in Barangay Apas, Cebu City after a painter died when he fell from the 17th floor of the structure.

In an interview yesterday (Monday), OBO chief Architect Florante Catalan said they received the report about the incident where the painter fell from the 17th floor of the building last Monday at around 9 p.m.

A day later, an inspector from OBO was sent to check the area. Catalan said they are just waiting for the report in order to assess if there was a violation of the National Building Code.

Catalan personally went to the area yesterday to also conduct his own inspection alongside the developer, contractor, and subcontractor of the area.

Catalan said that according to their Safety Engineer, the painter went into the balcony while painting. The painter allegedly wasn't able to properly lock his safety harness.

Catalan said that when painting, there should be body safety measures, which include a harness. These include a condula and a rope or a grab.

He added that the painter had a safety harness, but was just attached to aircon grills. When the painter fell, the aircon grill also fell with him.

The case was simultaneously investigated by the Philippine National Police, Department of Labor and Employment, and OBO.

"So ila rang nakita nga ang grills sa aircon nga nahulog," said Catalan.

He added that the weight of the painter could have been a factor or the wind that may have compromised the integrity of the harness.

With this, OBO has issued a temporary suspension order of its ongoing works on the second out of four buildings pending the investigation. An incident report is also being sought.

Aside from these, OBO sought mitigating measures and rectification works and methodology to avoid the incident from happening again.

Catalan said the building’s current work was focused on architectural works, which involved painting. He, however, added that they had permits to back these works. Hence, what happened was ruled as an accident.

"Compliant man sila," said Catalan.

Meanwhile, OBO has finally lifted the suspension order on the construction work of a portion of a condo project in Brgy. Hipodromo, Cebu City after the contractor made corrections on its violation.

The OBO has stressed to the contractor though that no other untoward incident should happen in this development.

OBO re-inspected the project in Barangay Hipodromo last Tuesday, September 17, 2024 after some part of its construction work was suspended last week.

Last August 26, it was reported that a platform fell after it was found out that there were no safety nets around the construction site.

Although no one was hurt in the incident, the contractor and developer was told to put the necessary safety measures in their project.

“Kadtong gi-request nato nga catchers in between from fifth to thirty seventh floor karon naa tay nakita. Sa among tan-aw okay-okay na,” said OBO chief Catalan via the City’s information office.

While approval for the construction work in the suspended area has already been given a go-to proceed, Catalan hopes that no other untoward incident will happen again.

“Pwede na sila kabalik sa trabaho katong portion nga atong gi-suspend, portion ra ha. Atong giklaro nga portion ra atong gi-suspend, but the rest pwede sila katrabaho sa uban,” Catalan added.

The project’s safety officer Edmund Cabahug also assured that they will be on full alert at all times, especially with the unpredictable weather these days.

Another project in barangay Hipodromo that was found to have caused water to back flow and flood some residences had also been given a temporary solution, but OBO also hopes the private contractor will be able to provide permanent solution to it.

Catalan said earlier that the City government is willing to assist them for a win-win solution.

“Si City mangita’g way (paagi) kung unsa pa may angay agianan sa tubig kay private property man to. So, discussion lang, sabot-sabot lang unsay angay buhaton,” Catalan said. —/ATO (FREEMAN)