Worker crushed in cement mixer mishap

MANILA, Philippines – A cement mixer operator died when he fell into the mixer he was cleaning in Novaliches, Quezon City Friday morning.

Felipe Bagason, 26, had switched off the mixer before cleaning the interior at the Novtek Corp. compound in Barangay San Bartolome, case investigator Senior Police Officer 2 Armand Melad said.

Bagason fell into the mixer before 6:30 a.m. when a still unidentified person switched it on while he was still cleaning the equipment, Melad said.

Bagason had been in the mixer for more than 10 minutes before a co-worker, Junmark Catacutan, found he was in the machine.

Quoting an official of the Novaliches District Hospital, Melad said Bagason died after his right leg was broken and his head was crushed by the mixer. Melad conducted an ocular inspection of the compound after receiving reports from the hospital guard about the incident.

A Novteck Corp. official, who requested anonymity, said they have settled the case with the victim’s family.

The firm supplies cement and other construction materials. –Robertzon Ramirez (The Philippine Star)