Another Hanjin worker dies in shipyard mishap

07/15/2008

Subic Bay Freeport — Another worker at the shipyard of Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp. Philippines (Hanjin) here died Sunday as a result of an accident.

The victim was identified as Benje Gamolo, 31 years old, a resident of Tatalon, Quezon City. Gamolo worked at the shipyard as structural erector under the supervision of Subic Hansung Inc., an accredited Hanjin sub-contractor.

Sketchy reports from Jay Duruin, a safety inspector of Hanjin, indicated that the

accident occurred at about 4:10 p.m. last Saturday at the shipyard’s Assembly Shop C.

Gamolo was reportedly installing a back girder when the right section of the eight-foot long, eight-ton steel beam slipped and hit him on his back and left side of the body.

The back girder was reportedly used as a brace for parallel columns. Duruin said the accident initially resulted in the “avulsion of the victim’s fifth digit finger, swelling of the victim’s left hand, and causing extreme pain.”

After first aid treatment at the HHIC clinic, the victim was reportedly brought to the James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital in Olongapo City, where he died at about 7:30 a.m. the next day.

Hansung reportedly shouldered his hospitalization costs and also provided for funeral and burial expenses, as well financial assistance to the victim’s family.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), meanwhile, said on Sunday that it expects a full account of the accident from investigators at its Public Health and Safety Office and its Law Enforcement Department to determine whether punitive actions against any erring entity would be warranted.

Pyeong Jung Yu, manager of Hanjin’s Outside Business Department, also promised to provide more details of the accident as soon as they become available.

Hanjin has been involved in many controversial projects, among which was the building of two condominiums in the Subic forested area, with senators questioning how the two buildings could have been built even before an environmental clearance was issued Hanjin.

There were also questions on why the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued Hanjin clearance for the firm to build its condo units right in the middle of a reserve forest in Subic, while cutting down too many trees.

Hanjin was also linked to an alleged bribery attempt as exposed by a provincial mayor, in exchange of Hanjin being able to build in that provincial area, with an environmental nod from the local officials.

The mayor later recanted his accusations against Hanjin, saying it was all a misunderstanding after he was scolded by Malacanang for baring to the media the alleged bribe.

Hanjin has also been in the vortex of reported deaths at its construction sites. With PNA

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