By Jason de Asis

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, January 29, 2011-In the light of the recent incident where at least 10 workers died after their scaffolding fell from the 28th floor of the Eton Residences at Paseo de Roxas and Gallardo Street, Makati City, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, who is the concurrent chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development and the joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Labor and Employment (COCLE) said that there is a need to review the country’s Occupational Safety Standards especially in construction sites as well as the system of inspection and enforcement for its improvement.

Jinggoy called the attention of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for meticulous complete investigation of the incident to determine the possible liabilities of the contractor and the owners of ETON in providing safety for their workforce, reiterating that we need a comprehensive  review, re-study and improvement of the system itself on the implementation of safety measures in work places, especially in construction sites, considered as a hazardous sector to work in because workers in the country are always facing risks to their lives.

In 2009, the Senator recalled that there were 26 work-related deaths and 116 injuries in the construction sector, adding that he also considered the calls of various labor groups for a review of the DOLE’s Order No. 57-04 which allows companies with more than 200 workers to conduct self assessment of their own compliance to working standards.

“My committee will closely work with the DOLE in conducting a thorough review of safety standards in the workplaces and come up with corrective measures,” Estrada said.

Earlier to this, the workers installing glass panels in the condominium were on board a gondola which fell from the 28th floor of the condominium. They were also reported to have been doing some exterior painting. The gondola could hold only two to three passengers and the overloading caused either its cables to snap or its motor to malfunction. The survivors and injured were quickly rushed to Makati area hospital. Initial report stated that the scaffolding at the building’s mezzanine collapsed causing the victims to fall. (Jason de Asis)