Union calls for action after fifth building site death this year

A 27-year-old worker from Siggiewi died in a seven-storey fall in Qawra yesterday in the fifth construction site fatality this year.

The police said the accident occurred It-Tamal Street at about noon when the man was preparing steel mesh on which to lay concrete. He lost his balance and fell into a shaft.

He was certified dead on the spot. The police are investigating and a magisterial inquiry has been instituted.

Figures given last month show that in the last few years a high proportion of workplace fatalities have occurred in the construction industry. Until October, the figure was 27, or 60 per cent, of the 45 workplace deaths recorded between 2002 and 2007.

In a statement issued after the accident, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) said yesterday's fatality was the fifth in the construction industry this year.

It said this kind of accident was on the rise as the industry picks up and provides more work.

While it did not want to enter into the merits of yesterday's fatality, it insisted that precautions must be taken to prevent such accidents from taking place.

It noted that wearing a harness is obligatory when working at a height, both outside and inside buildings. The owner of the project, supervisors, directors and managers are among those responsible for implementing health and safety control measures.

The OHSA also warned that it would take legal steps against those breaching health and safety laws.

The Union Haddiema Maghqudin expressed its concern at the number of occupational accidents in the construction industry and insisted that workers' health and safety should become a priority on the national agenda.

In a letter to Employment Minister Louis Galea, Gejtu Vella, the UHM's general secretary, called for a greater national effort so that no more lives may be lost in this way.

The union has also requested an urgent meeting with Dr Galea to discuss the situation following recent fatalities.

The UHM also asked the government to provide more financial and human resources for a national educational and information campaign and also to strengthen the OHSA's inspectorate.

Last month the Education and Employment Minister, Louis Galea, warned that the OHSA would be stepping up its enforcement action and will start to impose administrative fines.

This year inspections have been carried out in more than 90 construction sites with special attention to scaffolding. A number of court cases were instituted after these inspections.

The authority noted that only 66 per cent of the entities followed the good practice of protective clothing; only 70 per cent observed first aid standards; and only 35 per cent saw to fix signage regarding safety construction sites. Only 47 per cent observed good high-rise building practices.

A somewhat better situation was found with regard to scaffolding, with statistics reflecting this trend. Use was being made of more modern and safer equipment.