Update 3: OHSA explains Sliema fatality - overload was not cause of wire rope failure
Video: Paul Spiteri Lucas
(Updates OHSA findings)
A 59-year-old construction worker died in an accident in Sliema late this morning. He is from Siggiewi.
The accident happened in Windsor Terrace corner with Sir Arturo Mercieca Street.
The Occupational Health and Safety Authority said that its preliminary investigation showed that the crane’s steel wire rope snapped and broke, leading to the fall of the pulley block.
At the time of the accident, it said, the crane was not being used to lift any object, so overload was ruled out as the cause of the accident.
OHSA investigations remain ongoing.
Earlier, the OHSA said that the crane was being used to lift a bundle of wood shuttering when the crane’s wire rope failed and broke with the loac falling and landing behind the victim.
A Magisterial Inquiry is under way.
The OHSA said that the setting up and operation of all lifting appliances, including cranes,) is covered by a number of specific provisions.
In particular, employers need to have a safety programme to ensure that all the lifting appliances and lifting gear are selected, installed, examined, tested, maintained, operated and dismantled, with a view to prevent the occurrence of any accident; and in accordance with the requirements laid down in the Lifts and Hoists Regulations of 1964 and any other relevant Maltese legislation.
Furthermore, lifting appliances and items of lifting gear shall be examined by a competent person: before being taken into use for the first time; one week, after erection on site; after any substantial alteration or repair; monthly.
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98 Comments
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Sandro Pace
Feb 4th, 11:10
And tower cranes should not be left uselessly in one place for a long time. A large tower crane in qormi road st. venera has been there for years now, apparently idle, and I do not know if it is still there. From that time, a Cathedral would have been built. No matter how much safety certifications are invoked, it is no guarantee and would be putting the lives of residents and passers by at risk. Uselessly.
There is little enforcement in this sector. Apparently, the building industry, is left to do as it likes.
Gillian Huyton
Feb 3rd, 13:15
http://www.hse.gov.uk/lau/lacs/90-4.htm#para129 The lifting operations and lifting equipment regulations 1998.
There are strict rules and reglations in place when it comes to Lifting Equipment which are obeyed by the rest of Europe what makes Malta so different?
I feel that these people in there ivory towers who are responsible for the Safety and Maintenance of these crains should be ashamed of themselves. You have just killed a man as you should be making sure that the equipment is in good working order, ensure regular maintenance checks are carried out and the people using the equipment are trained.
If you require further information read up on the LOLER, (http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg290.pdf), PUWER (http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg291.pdf) and MHSWR Regulations.
Joseph Buhagiar
Feb 3rd, 08:42
Am I to understand that this is correct "all lifting appliance are selected installed examined maintaines etc....in accordance with Lift and Hoist regulation OF 1964!" In 1964 if motor vehicles are a measure to go by, we had no seat belts, cars had no crush and crumble zones, no ABS, few if any had disk brakes, ..........1964!
Can anyone aged 68 remeber the trucks and cranes we had when we were 20 years old, 48 years ago.
Regulations that are out of dated by 48 years.
My sincere condolances to the family and relatives of this worker who is the victim of our negligence.
.
Mr Sandro Cremona
Feb 3rd, 09:03
Prosit for your comment.. but rest assured that in no time all laws will be changed altered arranged updated.. but something had to happen otherwise the laws would have remained same for the 100th year anniversary.
joe vella
Feb 3rd, 07:52
all that the OHSA is capable of doing is TALK TALK TALK
as usual now they are reacting to a situation that has developed, now they send inspectors, bring up all sorts of rules and regulations, which OHSA unfortunately does not have the personnel and resources to contorl
OHSA should actually be PROACTIVE and take necessary action to avoid such mishaps before they actually do happen and kill someone as has happened now
OHSA knows full well that most of the cranes, tower cranes and heavy equipment brought in are used models and contractors do precious little to ensure that they are maintained up to the proper standards
We all know it is not the government that runs the country but the contractors, they do whatever they want and remain mostly unchecked
Victor Pulis
Feb 3rd, 06:26
The only time you see workers wearing safety helmets is when a minister or a PS goes visiting the construction site and this is because of the TV coverage. once the minister is gone so are the helmets!
Peter Murray
Feb 2nd, 19:08
When was the last time this wire rope was inspected or changed -out?How old was the wire rope ?All those rules and regulations in the last 2 paragraphs are only as good as the paper they are written on if these are neither enforced nor enacted..... and who ensures compliance with this?Who was operating the crane and was this person covered by the appropriate qualifications ,competence(certification) or experience to do so as this person has a responsibility for what he is operating?Regrettably, it is not hard to get to the bottom of what caused a man to lose his life and you will find someone is culpable as acts of God seldom happen and it is a miracle more of these incidents do not incur given the slack regard of , compliance with and monitoring of statutory safety legislation by all stakeholders concerned.
Jessie Borg
Feb 2nd, 19:03
THere seem to be alot of experts. Let us leave the OHSA speak, they are the ones who investigate the real causes rather then speculating. What could have happened was a human error and our thoughts should at this time be with the family of the poor man who lost his life and , if human error, with the other poor guy who will have to live his life in remorse for what might have happened.
Tower cranes are very safe pieces of machinery but as all machinery, cars, aeroplanes, trains malfunctions do happen and are unavoidable.
Dear worker may you rest in piece.
James Tyrrell
Feb 2nd, 21:18
Of course malfunctions do happen and are unavoidable but most of what happens can be avoided if the correct procedures and checks are carried out. Given the fact that the wire cable snapped these checks and procedures were not in place here. By the way Jessie as a former Health and Safety representative I do have some idea what I'm talking about!
Astrid Vella
Feb 2nd, 22:33
Ms. Borg, while our heart goes out to the worker and his family, your attitude is exactly what causes these accidents to repeat themselves. Cranes are only as safe as their maintenance, assembly and handling ensures and most accidents are indeed avoidable. A person who trained crane operators abroad and started to do that on his return to Malta, gave up because the criminal negligence he saw was too much for him. The most basic proper maintenance was ignored, obviously at the cost of safety.
The failure on the part of the authorities to enforce minimum standards in the face of repeated accidents is deplorable. When a similar accident happened at the Wied il-Ghasel site (fortunately without fatal consequences) the crane which collapsed was back on site the very next day!
Joseph Buhagiar
Feb 3rd, 08:49
Dear Mr/s Borg, did you read the article with an open and unbiased eye. Legally, they are bound to maintain them up to 1964 standards! i.e. standards that are 50 years out of date. This standard will be yard stick.
Christina Pace
Feb 3rd, 09:06
Unavoidable? How so? accidents and failures happen because of lack of judgemnt and improper maintenance and inspections. That is indeed very avoidable
E Zammit
Feb 2nd, 18:55
It is a very sad day for the family of this unfortunate gentleman. May God grant him eternal peace.
I have to add however, that such incidents happen everywhere around the world all the time, no matter how much is done to prevent this from re-occouring, it will continue to be that way. It's the law of avreages!
It hurts me to see so many people on here trying to conclude what actually caused this accident to happen, without them having any concrete facts at their disposal to proof anything. Whilst many are so quick to blame and condemn Tom, Dick and Harry, it is pertinent to note that gossiping is fast becoming the prime passtime of the Maltese.
This is very sad indeed, we should all shoulder our responsabilities and that includes the respect for others, that has to include respecting the feelings of the family and friends of this unfortunate brethern of ours, at this difficult and sad time.
RIP
mark johnson
Feb 2nd, 18:36
The crane’s steel wire rope snapped and broke.
Are they saying it's an act of god?
Mark Demicoli
Feb 2nd, 23:23
no Mr Johnson, it may mean that the crane's cable was badly maintained/inspected cause it failed under the pulley's weight, which is clearly designed to lift as a minimum weight.
Joe Grech
Feb 2nd, 18:26
Dear Occupational Health and Safety wise guys: we all know that the regulations are there - but do you go about to ensure that they are being observed?
Answer that please before trying to make yourself look perfect administrators.
Alfred Grech
Feb 2nd, 18:21
Sad tragedy for him and his family - may he rest in peace
If the wire was not loaded there must have been signs that the wire was not in good shape. One more thing I notice many times is that people tend to stand underneath loads being hauled by cranes. That is very unsafe.
N. Montanaro
Feb 2nd, 18:11
It's true, safety is as important as life itself, but in that case no one should get out of his house, or thinking about it, don't even stay in your house, you know, sometimes there are roofs falling down... You got my point, better all of the comments down here were prayers for this poor man's soul that is surely on its way to heaven in a close place to God... He went to work and never came back... His fate must seem a bit hard, but than again, whose isn't? And again, it's true sometimes machinery isn't well inspected, but I've seen accidents with regularly inspected machinery... Imagine your pc crashing out of the blues, that's how things work nowadays... And yes it would be good to save lives by checking and maintaining but how can we critic without knowledge of the particular case? Rest in peace to this 59 year old... for me you were a hero of your family and you will be remembered in that way for years to come...
mark johnson
Feb 2nd, 18:48
You make me sick.
Peter Murray
Feb 2nd, 19:17
Can you provide an example of one of the accidents you've seen occuring with regularly inspected machinery failing that resulted in man losing his life and how many of these compare to poorly inspected or non-existant inspection of equipment or machinery-or is that just another case of" how things work nowadays?"Would you be so philosphic and magnanimous if this man was one of yours?.Of course one in a million is attributed to an Act of God but usually someone is to balme or should we just simply say ...driver lost control of vehicle like the Police always do with road incidents/fatalities??
G Mangion
Feb 2nd, 18:09
My Prayers to the ufortunate worker may He rest in Peace.
G. Mangion.
Clemens Hasengschwandtner
Feb 2nd, 18:03
yeah - regulations from 1964 - most probably you need a letter from your local priest, an electricians certificate and a fire extinguisher. Safety regulations in Malta are very poor compared to more developed European countries...
charlie cauchi
Feb 2nd, 18:26
mhux ir regolamenti huma fqar, imma l awtorita hi fqira ghax mghandiex spetturi bizzejjed biex ilahqu max xoghol li ghandhom. ir regolamenti huma tajbin naturalment maz zmien dejjem jizdiedu, ghax maz zmien jinbidel il makinarju. toqodx tahseb li ir regolamenti tas sahha u is sigurta fuq il post tax xoghol go l unjoni ewropeja jigu atwati kollha fuq is siti tal kostruzjoni, u tahsiebx li huma perfetti. jien naf ghax kont nahdem ghal xi zmien l irlanda.
Louis Coleiro
Feb 2nd, 19:01
Mr Clemens Hasengschwandtner, please do not show us what are you made of. the regulations of 1964 practically are identical to those used in the UK nowadays. These are there in conjunction with other regulations that came into force in recent years that are a tranposition (if you know what it means) of the EU Directives.
Update yourself before you post, be sensible!!
Astrid Vella
Feb 2nd, 17:54
Much as everyone likes to blame MEPA, the responsibility for regulating this matter for now falls fairly and squarely on the OHSA's shoulders. It seems that a crane needs certification from a qualified mechanical engineer when it starts operations and every 6 months after that. Which begs the question, what are these engineers thinking of, certifying some of the clapped-out cranes we see on our streets?
Secondly, according to the Ministry of Resources, a crane operator does not require to have any sort of licence other than a heavy vehicle driving licence if it's a mobile, and not fixed crane.
What happens in the case of an accident is anybody's guess. What I can say is that when a similar accident happened at the Wied il-Ghasel site (fortunately without fatal consequences) the crane which collapsed was back on site the very next day!
I have been approached by a person who trained crane operators abroad and started to do that on his return to Malta, who gave up because the criminal negligence he saw was too much for him. The most basic proper maintenance was ignored, obviously at the cost of safety.
Pule' Carmel
Feb 2nd, 17:43
Metal fatigue is a property of most metals which undrgo repetitive cycling. It may look right from outside but the dendrites holding the material together are stressed, and so such articles would have a lifetime, and have to be replaced. Even the A380 have suffered cracks on its wings but with good regular inspection, incidents could be avoided. With wire ropes, and elecric cables there is a minimum radius of curviture to which the cales shouldbe subjected. If the crane was being used to lift a bundle of wood and the cable was wrapped around the bundle with the hook slipped over the downcoming cable, then at the point where the hook holds , the wire is subjected to take a very small raduis of curvature which puts a lot of stress on sone strand but not others . Wire ropes should be used in a straight manner as possibe so that all strands are equally loaded.
But convenience on the place of work sometimes overrule good work practice and knowledge of such issues as causing a wire rope to curve too much. In electric cable id a high tension cable is curved below the minimum radius of survature the insulation is stresssed and voltage breakdown will definetely occur.
If thsi was the case the conclusion that "From OHSA’s preliminary investigations, it is believed that an overload was not the cause of the wire rope failure." is wrong. It should check the radius of curvature taken by the sire rope at some of its length especially if the hook after being wrapped around the bundle was finally hooked to the downcomming wire are is the normal conenient practice in Malta.
Louis Coleiro
Feb 2nd, 19:12
Ninzalek il-kappel Prof. Pule' but it seems that the wire rope snapped and the pulley block went down and not he load. I agree with what you said but in this case I think wear and tear together with no regular inspections was the cause.
Mr Adrian Zahra
Feb 3rd, 08:12
Good morning profs pule. All you said, as usual makes a lot of theoretical sense. However I believe that the real problem lies with the fact that most of these cranes and I suppose also wire ropes are second hand rejects of the UK and Germany. I have never ever seen anyone performing tests on the cranes, and the level of rust externally visible makes up for a lot of concern of how this thing is being run locally.
Victor Laiviera
Feb 2nd, 17:41
That must surely be the quickest investigation and report on record. Certainly it is a record for Malta.
One wonders why .....
Peter Bonnici
Feb 2nd, 17:36
The miracle is that we don't hear of incidents like this 20 times a day.
Alexander Pace Gouder.
Feb 2nd, 17:36
@ Victor Pulis - Quite correct. OHSA have an email sent to them this afternoon from us Balluta Residents Association in this regard which states exectly what you have just written. - Alexander Pace Gouder PRO Balluta Residents Association.
Victor Pulis
Feb 2nd, 17:22
This accoident happened because of something that could have easily been overlooked but what about the accidents waiting to happen staring us in the face? Workers working on scaffolding with no safety harness, Workers operating jackhammers without any ear protection, Workers standing below cranes hoisting stone and other heavy loads. These are not uncommon sights and yet no one seems to notice them... until something like this happens.
Jay Oatmon
Feb 2nd, 17:03
Basically you have the owners beiing responsible for their equipment being in safe certified working order! Well good luck with that - it is like asking the fox to guard the chicken coop.
What a disgraceful situation to just write laws with no hope of implementation or oversight, and no one is responsible so the contractor will wriggle out of any responsibility.
Vincent Galea
Feb 2nd, 17:02
What a nice family man he was.
Last week he received the Karta Anzjan and all the family gathered and joked together.......for the last time.
May God bless you to know only good in your life from now on.
May his soul bask in the glory of God.
vella m
Feb 2nd, 17:01
'Pajjiz tas second hand' Condolences to the family,may he rest in peace .
Simon Abela
Feb 2nd, 16:55
Sorry to hear about another fatality at the workplace.
Has the crane, been certified from a professional Authority? Secondly how many trained Safety professionals exists on the island? I don’t mean a Heavy Duty Mechanic either. As we had 3 people dead in opening a Sewer hole, in Cirkewwa due to H2So4. and other accidents. I have seen that these accidents can be easily prevented. This is pure tragedy for this administration that Safety is preached and not followed.
Patricia Pace
Feb 2nd, 16:50
According to logic if you overload a wire rope beyond its tensile strength it WILL snap - so how come our know it all OHSA are saying it wasn't overloaded? Were they there at the time that it snapped or were they told it wasn't overloaded? As to Health and Safety procedured these are hardly if ever carried out - to name just a few next door to my house building has been going on with cranes that would not even pass the VRT with all the diesel fumes they belchout let alone the Health and Safety standards? and what about my health - breathing in all these fumes- or doesnt that count? This is apart from other hazards like passing the metal bucket over my property to build the mega huge 'bungalow' that mepa granted to the new owners - and this in a height restricted area where this building has now reached three floors - has anybody done anything about it in spite of several complaints? none at all as usual. Condolences to the family - what a waste of a life.
Jonathan Zammit Lapira
Feb 2nd, 16:47
@ Louis Coleiro
Jaqaw int avukat difensur tal-Health and Safety department???? Taf kemm hawn postijiet tax-xoghol f'Malta li jhaddmu iktar minn 5 impjegati u m'ghandhomx Health and safety committee? taf li meta tirraporta post tax-xoghol fejn hemm il-periklu u/jew tbatija ghall-haddiem u titlob risk assessment lil OHSA ta' triq Ferro tal-Pieta, jghidulek trid tistenna 3 xhur ghar-rizultat???? Imbasta dhalna fl-Ewropa fejn qalulna li konna se nkunu ahjar f'dawn il-ligijiet ta' harsien ta' periklu fuq il-post tax-xoghol!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jekk hemm ftit spetturi jaraw kif idahhlu izjed u jekk ikunu jafu lil propjetarju mhux joqghodu jgibu hafna skuzi banali. Is-sahha tal-haddiem tigi qabel kollox u qabel l-interessi kollha. Lil haddiem iddefendi sur Coleiro u mhux lil min suppost qed jaghmel xoghlu u ma jaghmlux!!!!!!
Louis Coleiro
Feb 2nd, 19:24
Habib, jien dak ix-xoghol naf x'jirrikjedi u nassigurak li ma ghandekx ragun ghaliex lanqas jekk ikun hemm spetturi daqs kemm hemm pulizija ukoll mhux bizzejjed. Jekk talbt risk assessment lil OHSA ma nafx xi tlabtulhom taghmel ghaliex huma ma jaghmlux risk assessment. Risk assessment irid jaghmlu min ihaddem permezz ta' persuna kompetenti registrata ma' l-OHSA u wara jghaddih lil OHSA. Sa fejn naf jien habib dawn ma jharsu lejn wicc hadd ghax jekk tmur sas-seduti taghhom il-qorti tara minn kull kulur. Lil dawk il haddiema li ghandhom bzonni dejjem kont hemm ghalihom habib fejn nahdem jien. Sahha siehbi.
Louis Coleiro
Feb 3rd, 09:04
Sejjer zbaljat habib ir-risk assessment mhux l-OHSA taghmelu imma min ihaddem permezz ta' persuna kompetenti. Jien haddiem minhiex dak li-probabbli qieghed tahseb int. U ftakar ukoll li dawk haddiema bhalek. L-ispetturi ma jharsu lejn wicc hadd u jekk tattendi xi seduta l-qorti tara minn kull kulur akkuzati li kisru l-ligi.
No hard feelings my friend
joe galea
Feb 2nd, 16:04
Probably this crane is bought from aboard a second hand use where it`s out dated in developed countries.
These machinery must be inspected before they start being in use by health & safety inspectors.
Does this crane has a cirtificate?
If not I hope the authority takes legal action
Peter Murray
Feb 2nd, 16:01
Fao-Mr.E. Azzopardi,
You are right to query adequate inspection and supervision but wrong to suggest that MEPA undertake such as it falls incumbent upon the company who own or lease the machinery or equipment (also the actual operator has some reponsibility to ensure the safety and competency of the equipment being operated)and the OHSA .All and any lifting equipment must be inspected-and records kept- at least once a year -more often in many circumstances-along with stringent maintenance programmes being conducted very regularly also-or so they should be!Who ensures such conditions are met and complied with?
mario salnitro
Feb 2nd, 15:24
Sorry for this worker but lucky not more people died as work goes on with pedestrians passing.
Again prosit to the safety officers and the crain wardens prosit ta xejn.
M muscat
Feb 2nd, 15:17
ifhem jien nahdem fuq rig taz zejt u emini nicekjaw wire tal crane u kul haga ohra regolari u xorta emm dik l posobilta li ikun emm accident u gieli graw. bla sens li tridu igibuwa li tort tiju miskien... may he rest in piece
Victor Calleja
Feb 2nd, 16:33
Min qieghed jghid li it tort tal haddiem? Pero ta xi hadd hu ta.
Joe Felice-Pace
Feb 2nd, 15:07
I will not pass comments on the incident and/or on the machinery. But I know from my insurance and surveying experience that the vast majority of these cranes are bought (sometimes at very low prices) from UK sources after having been in operation for years on end. Normally they arrive full of rust, are given a coat of paint, "certified" and off to work. A number of owners take third party insurance; others try not to.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Feb 2nd, 17:22
"I will not pass comments on the incident and/or on the machinery." And yet you did.
Victor Calleja
Feb 2nd, 14:56
Who is responsible for checking the cranes tension cables and certify their tensile strength?
God only knows.
Victor A
Feb 2nd, 18:42
every lifting objects including domestic and commercial lifts, catering kitchen lifts, garage car jacks, cherry pickers, cranes ect they have to pass an engineer test every so months depends the type and the certificate must be passed to the authorities to proof that the machinery is in safe working conditions! failure to this, may results to unhappy tragic stories
Nyal Xuereb
Feb 2nd, 14:51
Now this accident gives way to a very serious issue. It seems that the cable of the tower crane snapped, causing the hook to fall. We all know how tower cranes drift across the skies, passing over anything underneath. As much as this accident was tragic an unlucky for the worker who was hit, it was lucky that the hook fell into the same construction site.
John Dee
Feb 2nd, 14:48
When will someone instigate a properly controlled and certificated safety system in the Island's construction industry.
How many lives will you consider to constitute "enough"?
Is building on the cheap worth sacrificing another life.
Joseph A Borg
Feb 2nd, 14:25
the jib seems to still be there. Maybe it was the trolley or hook block?
Condolences to the family and friends.
B Attard
Feb 2nd, 14:12
Very sad may he rest in peace.
Jessie Borg
Feb 2nd, 14:07
May Mr. Baldacchino rest in peace and let us all not speculate. I have known Mr. Baldacchino and his company and they are truely aware and operate high health and safety standards.
According to the info it was not a part f the jib that fell but a wire broke.
John Said
Feb 2nd, 13:57
To all the people commenting, and trying to blame the health and safety officers, you have to keep in mind, that this kind of machinery works for long hours every day, and the ammount of wear and tear is un predictable. It is up to the persons using it to keep a constant eye on the machinery.
May this man reast in peace, and may his family find the strenght and help to carry on with their lives!
Astrid Vella
Feb 2nd, 17:27
Mr Said, you are wrong. Wear and tear is perfectly predictable, and with the right maintenance and checks most such accidents can be avoided. Note I did not say all, but certainly most. I have spoken to a person who trained crane operators abroad and started to do that on his return to Malta, but eventually gave up because the sloppy, penny-pinching mentality as regards health and safety was too much for him.
E. Azzopardi
Feb 2nd, 13:49
To reiterate: Is there any supervision by MEPA on these construction sites? When one give a permission to build, the responsibility does not end there. Us machinery, cables etc checked both by the contractor and MEPA? It is useless saying that there was the MEPA reform ( there should have been a transport reform too!) and these accidents still happen. Could have been an innocent pedestrian.
Mr Jeremy cassar
Feb 2nd, 14:51
e.azzopardi - who said the the worker wasnt innocent???? only pedstrians are innocent????? would mepa have stopped the accident from happening?????????
C Muscat
Feb 2nd, 13:48
Rest in peace dear worker and condolescences to his family.
As always many comment without being practical.. just to remark. I was not there and I have no idea what happened. As always the matter is investigated and proper follow up takes place. Some accidents just happen due to the nature of the work...some accidents happen due to negligence and lack of Health and Safety. Let us all hope that we try to avoid such tragedies as much as possible.
John Dee
Feb 2nd, 14:53
...... and some happen because there is no licencing, certification, inspection, maintenance, training or monitoring carried out.
Cabling which is correctly maintained and tested does not "give way" !!
Sadly, as this poor man's family now knows, "hoping, and""trying to avoid" is not enough.
C Muscat
Feb 2nd, 16:49
...... and some happen because there is no licencing, certification, inspection, maintenance, training or monitoring carried out...........................This is called NEGLIGENCE;
Cabling which is correctly maintained and tested does not "give way" !!.......most of the time true but not always.
Christina Pace
Feb 2nd, 13:36
Fact: Man built crane
Fact: Man built crane to hold jibs up
Fact: Man is responsable for maintenance and inspection
Fact: Man is responsable for operation
Fact: Man is responsable to take faulty crane out of operation
Fact: Man is responsable for keeping people safe around crane in operation.
FACT: Jib fell on man's shoulders and killed him on the spot.
Conclusion: Man is responsable for this accident and should be charged with involuntary manslaughter. Of course which man to pick?
James Dewar
Feb 2nd, 14:56
Perhaps an over-simplification of the situation without the benefit of a full and detailed investigation into the circumstances.
Peter Bonnici
Feb 2nd, 17:33
@ Christine Pace.
Fact: You mispelt the word responsible 5 times.
Mr Lawrence Andrews
Feb 2nd, 13:21
Sliema residents are sick of this.......shoddy rickety cranes erected everywhere over our heads. huge counterweight concrete blocks hanging in mid-air all day and all night. Of course this is a pure classic matter of might is right....shame people continue to die......dozens of workmen NEVER in helmets or proper shoes or with safety harnesses............rusty cranes............old fraying cables..........second hand cranes tal-ingilterra surrounded with shoddy brick walls or more GREEN MESH to cover untold gremlins........controls naaaaaa..........do we think these people care about us NO WAY they dont even care about their workforce.......umbad naraw! MEXXI. Third world folk.
j dough
Feb 2nd, 14:13
this does not happen only in sliema but all over the island.
we should be protected from others negligence.
of course r i p to the unfortunate worker and condolances to his family.
Stuart McNeil
Feb 2nd, 14:42
Excellent comment sir and so very accurate--what a disgrace.
David Smith
Feb 2nd, 13:09
As always, armchair critics rush to comment, without knowing the facts.
In the UK, and according to the Health and Safety Executive, the number of workers fatally injured in 2010/11 is 171, and corresponds to a rate of fatal injury of 0.6 per 100 000 workers. In Malta, the fatal accident rate for 2011 was also of 0.6 per 100,000 workers. Malta's figure for 2011 is substantially lower than what it was 5 years ago, and much, much lower than the rate 10 years ago.
John Dee
Feb 2nd, 15:50
David - I think the worrying thing about Malta's accidents is not a simple matter of statistics, but a case of complete ignorance of even the most basic safety principles - look at the guy in the video standing under the scaffold without protective headgear. In the UK he would be sacked!
They just have no idea.
If the UK's safety regime was enforced here, I wonder if next year's figures would still read 0.6 per 100,000?
Astrid Vella
Feb 2nd, 17:14
David, you are overlooking one important point. Many accidents in Malta go unreported. I was horrified to be told by workers that even a death on a building site went unreported because it was an emigrant, "so who cares?"
Victor Rodenas
Feb 2nd, 13:06
It looks as if the wire rope of the crane broke.May he rest in peace.
Christina Pace
Feb 2nd, 13:37
Steel cable you mean?
James Dewar
Feb 2nd, 15:05
Re Christina Pace, Can't really speak for Mr Rodenas but had he meant to say "steel cable" then he probably would have. In any event "wire rope" may well be as accurate a term in relation to the part referred to. Let's not overlook the fact that someone has lost their life and irrespective of the cause or correct technical descriptioin of the alleged flawed part this is a tragedy.
A.M. Galea
Feb 2nd, 13:05
Hija verament ahbar ta' niket meta tisma ahbarijiet bhall dawn specjalment meta haddiem li ikun hareg ghax-xoghol biex jaqla il-hobza ta' kulljum ghal familja tieghu u imbghad hajtu tintemm b'dan il mod . Miskina dik il-familja li taghaddi min din id-dizgrazzja kiefra , specjalment jekk ikun ghad hemm it-tfal zghar li issa zgur ihossu in-nuqqas u l-imhabba ta' missierhom . J'alla ikollhom is-sabar f'dan il-mument ta' niket , u li dan l-imsejken haddiem ikoll il-mistrieh ta' dejjem. RIP.
A Galea
Feb 2nd, 12:58
:( what a schoking news,poor man and his family......very sad !
Neville Roberts
Feb 2nd, 12:56
My greatest condolences to the man's family but know I hope they take the responsible persons to hell and back followed by the person that allows this to happen on his building site !
When is this country and its Government going to realise that these things are happening over and over again and it seems like every week we read about such things. HEALTH and SAFETY is a complete joke in MALTA. What kind of 3rd world country is this? WAKE UP, HEALTH AND SAFETY and start policing these places. All building sites and workplaces need Policing by the H&S people on a regular but unannounced basis. Please Clean this country up of unnecessary deaths and Injury. How much is Life worth in Malta, NOT MUCH TO SOME, OBVIOUSLY !
B Attard
Feb 2nd, 14:11
HEALTH and SAFETY is a complete joke in MALTA
You are more than right Mr. Roberts. Instead of educating people these heatlh and safety personnel are there for imposing hefty fines the first time you get in contact with them .Shame... People must be warned and made aware ...the second time get fined.
Louis Coleiro
Feb 2nd, 15:09
Mr Roberts I think you do not know how things work. All the obligations are on the client and the contractor in the case of a construction site. The Occupational Health and Safety Authority is there only to monitor and enforce the regulations. The officers cannot be everywhere in the same time they have a schedule of inspections to follow. This also applies in all the developed countries.
Victor Vella
Feb 2nd, 12:55
When a worker leaves home in the morning to earn honest daily bread for him and his family and never returns home it is tragic beyond belief.His family will always expect him back as they would never have closure on his life.As for a jib falling on him, wow how did this happen? was the crane overloaded, where they dismantling the crane? I sincerely hope that the magisterial inquiry doesn't take years to be concluded.His family and the families of all workers need answers so that they would know what happened.Another good thing from publishing the inquiries would be so that workers would learn more and if mistakes were committed they would watch out for them .Rest in peace my friend.
godwin difesa
Feb 2nd, 16:18
I agree 100% with you perfect remarks.
Anthony Camilleri
Feb 2nd, 12:49
Qieghed naqra li l-magistrat mar jaghmel l-inkjesta.Nisperaw li l-inkjesta tkun lesta qabel ma dan il-haddiem jqum mill mewt!
Ma kienx ikun ahjar li kieku il-gvern flok qieghed jonfoq u jhallas il-flus lil dawn l-esperti, kien jinvestihom biex jaghmel aktar spezzjonijiet fuq dawn l-ingenji u jara li jkunu siguri?
Bl-inkjesta se niehdu? Mhu gejn hadd lura mill mewt se nqallaw lira lil hafna esperti u jibqa kollox kif inhu!
I Bugeja
Feb 2nd, 12:46
This seems to be a small development from the looks of it. Larger companies are pressed for health and safety standards. Small companies should be too after all it is people's lives which are being taken.
B Attard
Feb 2nd, 14:16
Nahseb ghandek zball ghax anke minn ikun qed jaghmel alterazzjoni fid-daru jekk jindunaw bih tal-health and safety ma jhalluhx bi kwietu.
Nyal Xuereb
Feb 2nd, 14:53
I think it's the other way round.
Charles Micallef
Feb 2nd, 12:43
May god help his family, in this hour of need!
Louis Coleiro
Feb 2nd, 12:36
Fil fehma tieghi il-crane li kien qieghed jintuza kellu xi difett jew kien armat hazin. Impostanti li l-apparat ikun dejjem spezzjonat u misjuq minn persuni kompetenti.
Anthony Camilleri
Feb 2nd, 13:01
Naqbel mighek li l-ingenji ghandhom jigu spezzjonati. Imma allura dan ix-xoghol min irid jaghmlu, mhux tal Health and Safety? Jekk le min hi l-awtorita li suppost taghmel dan ix-xoghol?
Jekk ma hemmx bizzejjed nies mhux problema taghna, dak imissu jarah il-gvern u jimponi fuq min qighed jaqla il-miljuni biex qabel ma jibda ix-xoghol ghandu jigi spezzjonat kollox u jhallas il-kuntrattur u mhux ihallsu il-familji tal-mejta.
Reinhard Azzopardi
Feb 2nd, 13:39
Spezzjonijiet biss m'humiex bizzejjed. Certain things are supposed to be replaced regardless of their condition. Steel cables for instance. When I worked in libya, we used to change the cables of cranes every 18 months if I'm not mistaken, whether they were still serviceable or not. Nixtieq inkun naf kemm hawn min jaghmilhom dawn l-affarijiet hawn Malta.
May this poor man rest in peace.
Mario Darmanin
Feb 2nd, 12:30
may he rest in peace. povru ragel mar jaqla lira ghall-familja u ma dahalx lura. nisperaw li l-incident ikun investgat biss serjeta' forsi jonqsu dawn il-perikli fuq il-lantijit tax xoghol darba ghal dejjem
Anthony Camilleri
Feb 2nd, 12:28
May he rest in peace.God give him eternal rest.
Was this crane inspected to ensure the safety of the workers and pedestrians?
Who is responsable for this accident?
When we are going to ensure safety standards?
William Calleja
Feb 2nd, 12:41
When enough people demand safety standards from the government then we might get them.
Jonathan Zammit Lapira
Feb 2nd, 12:23
May he rest in piece and may the Health and safety division in Ferro street, Pieta take notice of this as they do not take complains over the telephone!!!!!!!!!!!! They ask you to go personally there to their offices to make complains and to ask for their head Mr. Charles Micallef. Imbaghad niftahru li ghandna l-Health and safety division u tghidx kemm qed taghmel xoghol ghall-haddiema maltin u ghawdxin!!!!!
Louis Coleiro
Feb 2nd, 12:34
Sur Zammit Lapira nahseb li ort daqxejn wahda smerc hawn ghaliex huwa fl-obbligu ta' min ihaddem sabiex jara li jigu osservati l-istandards tas-Sahha U Sigurta. L-Awtorita tas-Sahha u Sigurta qeghda hemm bhala regolatur biss u mhux biex izomm idejn dak li jkun. huwa nuqqas minn naha tieghek li ssemmi persuni li jahdmu bla waqfin favur il-haddiem. L-ispetturi ma huma magicians u jkunu f'hafna postijiet f'hin wiehed. Habib ara sew il-ligi kif inhi qeghda ghaliex jekk tinforma ruhek qabel ma titkellem taqta figura ahjar. Fuq dak is-sit suppost il-klijent appunta dak li jissejjah site supervisor (health and Safety) sabiex jara li fis-sit ikun hemm kollox kif titlob il-ligi. Il-kuntrattur huwa ukoll fl-obbligu tieghu li jaghmel risk assessment. Inhalluhom fil-paci in-nies li jaghmlu xogholhom minghajr ma jqisu l'interessi taghhom. Sahha habib.
Anthony Camilleri
Feb 2nd, 12:43
Naqbel mieghek mija fil mija, hawn ma rridux nitghallmu, tpacpic biss fatti xejn! Fejn huma li Standards ta EU.Mela toy minghajr CE marking ma jistax jidhol Malta, arlogg jew slipper mhux tad-ditta jinzam minhabba IPR u bicca cinga ta arlogg maghmula minn gilda ta kukkudril jigu tal MEPA ghax hija protetta bis CTIES convention. Allura il-haddiema u in-nies li jkuna ghaddejjien min hdejn xi kostruzzjoni min jigi jara humiex protetti minn xi accident? Minn jara u jiccertifika l-ingenji humiex tajbin u siguri?Forsi xi hadd jghidilna u jikkonvincina biex nemmnuh!
Carmel Ellul
Feb 2nd, 13:03
The Act enpowers the authority to monitor and enforce ; see extract from the act below in paragraph (d)
No further comments :(
Under Act XXVII of 2000 the Authority has various functions, including to:
(a) apply the provisions of Act XXVII of 2000 and of any regulations or ordersmade thereunder;
(b) establish strategies ..............................,
(c) advise the Minister responsible.........................,
(d) monitor compliance with relevant occupational health and safety legislation and to take enforcement action
Louis Coleiro
Feb 2nd, 15:03
this is for the information for those who may not be familair with the Health & Safety Regulations:
1. Tower cranes have to be inspected and certified suitable for work by a mechnical engineer before being used on the construction site.
2. The certificate issued has a validity of one year
3. in another regulation there is the mentioned the maintenance and the up keep of the equipment of which records have to be kept.
4. On a construction site like this inspection of the crane has to be carried ut frequently due to usage. this visual inspection can be carried out by the crane driver himself if there will be some visible defect he has to notify the site supervisor and the crane will not be used until necessary works are carried out.
5. On a construction site there is the Health and Safety Supervisor as required by law. a notfication form has to be filled and sent to the OHSA and updated as necessary.
Mario Grungo
Feb 2nd, 12:20
Miskin. May he rest in peace and his fami.y find solance
Ms Maria Vella
Feb 2nd, 12:05
May he rest in peace and may his family find solace at such a difficult time