Korean foreman dies in Hanjin accident

19th death in shipyard since 2006

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Philippines — A Korean foreman died at the shipyard of the Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines in Subic, Zambales, after he was hit and run over by a forklift operated by a Filipino worker on Sunday.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority administrator Armand Arreza confirmed the 12:45 a.m. accident, the second since the death of worker Raldon del Rosario, 19, on Friday.

Arreza identified the latest fatality as Choi Dong Baek, who died at the San Marcelino District Hospital in San Marcelino, Zambales, at 1:30 a.m. on Sunday.

Arreza said the forklift driver, Menti Dacanay, has been held at the site.

He said Dacanay began his shift at the shipyard’s Assembly Shop C at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Work at the shipyard has been on a 24-hour basis. The Korean shipbuilding firm has finished four of the 13 ships it is scheduled to build until 2013.

Arreza said Baek’s death “appeared accidental.”

At the shop, forklifts are used to move metal plates and ship components, he said.

Baek’s is the first known accidental death among Hanjin’s Korean employees. His death brought to 19 the number of work- and traffic-related accidents at the shipyard since 2006, according to the company’s tally.

Del Rosario died from massive head injury after an 800-kg metal door installed at Assembly Shop 3 fell on him, hitting his head.–Tonette Orejas, Central Luzon Desk