Labour officials are to carry out an investigation after one worker died and another was seriously injured in construction site accidents at the weekend.
The Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) said that it was “extremely concerned” about both accidents. The causes of both accidents are subject to further investigation, the bureau noted, and if there were violations of relevant Occupational Safety and Health regulations, the respective companies will be punished.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Chan Wun Man said on Saturday that a mainland Chinese non-resident worker (NRW) died after “suffering an electric shock” when repairing spotlights installed on an advertising hoarding on the rooftop of Pou Kuong Industrial Centre on Avenida Son On in Taipa, with two workmates.
Chan said the PJ were notified at 7:14 pm on Saturday by the Conde de S. Januário Hospital Centre that a 31-year-old man, surnamed Zhang, who had been rushed for emergency treatment by ambulance after “having suffered an electric shock”, was certified dead.
Chan noted that at about 6:10 pm, while standing on the hoarding Zhang and one of his colleagues had removed the spotlights and their metal supports. After replacing the bulb, his colleague held the spotlight while Zhang held the metal supports that were used to connect the spotlights to the hoarding to wait for another colleague to switch on the power supply to test if the spotlight was working.
After the power was switched on, Zhang suddenly gave a loud cry and fell unconscious; his colleague standing on the billboard also felt an electric shock.
The other colleague immediately switched the light and the power supply off and called the police.
Upon examination, Zhang’s palms were found to be black, suggesting electrocution, but no suspicious injuries were found.
The PJ classified the case as a dead body found, adding that the exact cause of death still needed to be confirmed by a forensic examination.
According to a Fire Services Bureau (CB) statement yesterday, a 35-year-old NRW sustained a chest contusion in an industrial accident on the Galaxy Macau Phase 4 construction site in Cotai. The CB said that the worker, who was not breathing and had no signs of a heartbeat, was rushed to the Conde de S. Januário Hospital Centre. The worker’s current condition is unknown.
The DSAL said that the victim was injured when operating a cherry picker, The Macau Post Daily reported.
