Safety group seeks probe of plumbers’ death at Ali Mall

MANILA, Philippines—A workplace safety group has called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) to investigate the death of four plumbers in a grease trap in Ali Mall.

Police and media reports cited a lack of safety devices when the four workers, belonging to the RCBC Plumbing Services, worked to clean the grease trap of the shopping mall in Cubao, Quezon City.

“If indeed true, we are very bothered the management of Ali Mall allowed the workers to conduct their operation without proper safety devices,” said Noel Colina, executive director of the Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development.

Romy Suarez, 50, along with his two sons, Rommel and Rodel, and their neighbor and co-worker Marvin Aleman died Thursday morning inside Ali Mall’s grease trap.

Colina said that “Rule 1121 of the Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS) of the Philippines identifies working in underground tanks and confined spaces as hazardous work and provides standard operating procedures before any work should be done.”

These are:

First, “the area shall be checked visually to ensure that the water level is below 15 cm. (6 in.) and if water is present, a dry wooden platform shall be available for use.”

Second, “approved types of breathing apparatus and other personal protective equipment shall be provided and made available for use by the worker or workers entering a confined space.”

And third, “no worker or group of workers shall enter a confined space unless a watcher is available who is familiar with the job and in contact with the men at regular intervals and equally provided with breathing apparatus for ready use in case of emergency.”

Colina called on DoLE and other government agencies to “conduct a comprehensive investigation of the incident.”

“The investigation must ascertain who among the management of Ali Mall allowed the workers to enter the work premises without the proper work attire and safety gear,” he said. –INQUIRER.net