SAFETY FIRST TOWER CRANE CRASHES, FIVE WORKERS KILLED

 Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

15th July 2011 issue-

                           SAFETY FIRST

 

TOWER CRANE CRASHES, FIVE WORKERS KILLED

 

Accidents do not happen everyday, but, when it does happen, it ceases the lives and the spirit. That is the peculiarity of accidents arising out of negligence and carelessness. Everybody accepts and acknowledges that Safety is a prime concern, but very few seriously follow it.

 

And that is the story at the DLF’s Westend Heights New Town project site located at Akshaynagar, off Begur road. Five labourers were killed when an upraised platform or frame they were using for climbing on the tower crane crashed down almost 50 meters to the ground. The accident occurred at around 5.30 pm on Thursday, 31^st August, 2011.

There were multiple versions of the accidents as some said that the men had climbed on top of the crane to replace the Motor and some said that they were actually standing on the climbing platform. It was then that one or more pin or rod broke, resulting in the platform to crash down on the ground. Unfortunately or rather shockingly, none of the men were wearing safety harnesses. Four of the five deceased men died at the scene while another one succumbed later. Another labourer is admitted to a city hospital with severe multiple injuries and undergoing treatment.

The tragic incident has once again sparked wide debate on safety of labourers and many organizations and police have jumped to the forefront in defense of the fragile labour community. Police Commissioner Mirji and DCP (South) Sonia Narang who visited the spot after the accident said that action will be taken against the responsible persons and they will be penalized.  

DLF issued a statement saying it regrets the unfortunate incident at its site which resulted in the tragic loss of five lives. The company also announced the compensation of Rs. 5 lakhs to the kin of the deceased and Rs. 2,50,000/- to the injured. The Karnataka Labour Minister Bache Gowda also announced compensation of Rs. 50,000/- to each deceased and Rs. 25,000/- to the injured.

Meanwhile, the labourers at the site claim that they are not provided with proper safety measures and also do not have ESI or PF provision. The labourers at the site have collectively protested against the management and the work at the site is suspended for now. The police have also filed a case of negligence against the DLF Company.

 

It so happens that construction companies show negligence in providing adequate safety measures to the workers. This life threatening practice always awaits fatal incidents which then sends shock waves across the industry and provokes furious debate on safety. Unfortunately, this is not the first incident. Many such fatal incidents are recorded in history but have been forgotten with the passing time. Let us see, if this one also goes into the same forgotten folder.