Second worker in fatal Hanjin shipyard accident dies

Both the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) issue suspension orders to Binictican I-Tech, Hanjin’s subcontractor, following the accident

by Randy V. Datu, Rappler, May 21, 2018

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines – A second worker in the fatal accident at the Hanjin shipyard on May 12 succumbed to head injuries and was declared dead on Sunday, May 20.

Valian Dela Cruz, one of the 3 workers who sustained injuries after falling from the scaffolding they were resting on, died at the Baypointe Hospital here. He and 8 others were taking a break from the heat of the sun while working at one of the project vessels of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines (HHIC-Phils) at the Redondo Peninsula.

The 39-year-old worker from Zambales was employed as a general worker of Binictican I-Tech, a Hanjin subcontractor.

Ferdinand Leuterio, 38, a foreman from Leyte, was the first fatality of the accident. Leuterio died due to internal organ injuries.

Johnny Alegre, 39, and Gerry Bayuta, 34, were reportedly still in the intensive care unit of the hospital.

Alegre suffered a head injury while Bayuta had a fracture on his lower back after the fall.

Both the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) issued suspension orders to Binictican I-Tech.

Song Suk Bae, president of the subcontractor company, expressed regret over the fatal incident and said it has adopted corrective measures to prevent the recurrence of a similar incident. (READ: From shipyard to graveyard)

Leuterio and Dela Cruz are the 39th and 40th fatalities from industrial accidents inside Hanjin since it began its shipbuilding operations in Subic in May 2006.

SBMA chairman and administrator Wilma Eisma called the latest fatal accident “deplorable” and said “the SBMA is now in close coordination with the DOLE Occupational Health and Safety on this.”

She added the Public Health and Safety Department of the SBMA will look into the matter and impose appropriate fines and penalties.

“But more importantly, I want measures passed the soonest, for stricter and prohibitive safety measures,” Eisma said. – Rappler.com