The Department of Labor and Employment has ordered work at a hydropower construction site in Mindoro Oriental stopped after a rockfall incident that killed two workers and injured five others.
DOLE Regional Office 4-B Regional Director Teodoro Delson and Bureau of Working Conditions Director Catherine Parado said the work stoppage order was issued against Sta. Clara International Corp.
DOLE also noted the company had released assistance to the victims’ families and is taking corrective steps.
Killed in the incident were Eduardo Santos, 47; and Melchor Lus-ok, 27, of Baguio City. Injured were Samuel Gay-ob, Agustin Pacala, Angel Taryachen, Benjamin Camposagrado, and Sagando Fomeg-as.
Camposagrado and Fomeg-as suffered multiple injuries and were hospitalized, while the three others suffered minor bruises.
The DOLE said the rockfall hit the temporary workers’ shelter at the construction site in Barangay Catuiran in Naujan town.
The victims were taking a regular work break at the time.
Citing the safety officer, the DOLE said heavy rain the night before may have loosened the rocks above the inlet tunnel.
“The company failed to do a hazard analysis of the particular area,” Delson said.
Meanwhile, Sta. Clara International Corp. has been issued a Certificate of Compliance on general labor standards, but is implementing corrective action on occupational safety and health.
Among the corrective actions are providing an on-site doctor, the installation of road warning sisgns, and the implementation of the DOLE recommendation against using oxy-acetylene tanks with broken valve handles.
“It has a DOLE-approved Construction Safety and Health Program; skills certificates for equipment operators from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; confined work space permit; job hazard analysis; and hot works permit, the report noted.
The company has also released to the victims’ families cash assistance of P50,000, and paid P150,000 for the hospitalization of two workers.
It also shouldered the funeral expenses of the two deceased workers amounting to P190,000.
Delson also said SCIC Senior Vice President Ulysses Bautista and several managers committed to implement a work procedure to safely remove more rocks in the area where the accident occurred.
“Our composite team found the methodology safe and feasible and approved it,” Delson said.
He also directed the company to continue mitigation work in the construction site, including slope protection, rip-rap construction, road improvement, and oxygen level monitoring in the confined spaces. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News
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