:: rawblogXport ::

:: Sunday, May 16, 2004 ::

21 workers dead:
Illegal deal blamed in Henan deaths By Wu Gang (China Daily)
'Improper operations at the construction site and the lack of training of the workers caused the tragedy,' a spokesman for the municipal government of Anyang told the press Thursday.

The scaffolding fell when more than 30 workers were dismantling the steel framework beside the newly-finished 68-metre-tall chimney.

The scaffolding, used to lift construction materials was fastened to the ground with 16 ropes.

Two ropes on the north side were removed two days before the accident and undermined the stability of the structure, the municipal government spokesman said.

Moreover, continuous rain in the previous two days left the earth around the construction site loose.

The steel frame tilted and pulled out a fastening bolt at the foot, which led to the crash of the entire structure.

'I was entangled in the framework when it began to fall toward the northeast, and I was already on the ground before I could make any response,' the Beijing News quoted survivor Zhao Aijun as saying.

Zhao said he and his co-workers, not trained for mid-air working, were told to remove the scaffold or they would not be paid for previous work.

People need special training and a certificate for highrise operations.

The 30-plus workmen were assigned to stand on the scaffold 2.5 metres apart to pass down the removed steel tubes.

Most of the workers on the upper part fell or were crushed to death, while most workers below 10 metres survived.

posted 9:03 AM :: reference link :: 0 comments ::

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