Government suspends Chinese Company following accident that claimed two workers

GOVERNMENT has suspended China Henan International Corporation from carrying out civil works for Southern Water and Sewerage Company (SWASCO) in Livingstone following the recent accident in the tourist capital in which two of its workers died while one survived.

The accident happened on May 14, 2014 when the soil buried them as they were digging trenches in readiness for the laying of new water pipes for SWASCO.

Labour and Social Security Minister Fackson Shamenda announced the development at a media briefing at Zambezi Sun Hotel in Livingstone yesterday.

Mr Shamenda said the Government had suspended civil works by China Henan International Corporation which was contracted by SWASCO until safety measures were fully adhered to by the contractor.

He said he was further consulting the Attorney General’s office for legal action to be evoked on China Henan International Corporation.

“The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has recommended that China Henan International Corporation which was contracted by SWASCO to carry out civil works in Livingstone suspend work at the site of an occupational accident until safety measures that were prescribed are fully adhered to by the contractor.

This recommendation follows an occupational accident that occurred on May 14, 2014 in which two employees were killed and one was injured,” Mr Shamenda said.

He said inspectors from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security who investigated the accident established various issues with the contractor.

“Prior to the accident, two workers were digging a trench at a depth of four meters while another was working at the two metres level but within the same trench, the walls of the trench collapsed caving in the loose soil around the trench and burying the three workers alive,” he said.

The workers on site attempted to rescue their colleagues and only managed to dig out one worker after 15 minutes who was rushed to the Livingstone General hospital, while the bodies of the other two workers were taken out 1 hour 30 minutes later.

This part of the trench had earlier collapsed several times the previous day, and workers reported the matter to their supervisors, but no action was taken by the supervisors.

“Arising from these findings and several others that have occurred in the past, the Ministry has directed all contracted companies to adhere to safety and health regulations in the workplace failure to which, it will invoke the provisions of the Factories Act and suspend operations until safety measures are put in place,” he said.

The findings from this investigation reveal that the soil at the site was too sandy to hold the walls of a four meter trench.

There was need to support the trench walls with timbering and shutter structures and prevent the caving in;

Mr Shamenda said the weight of heaped soil on the sides of the trenches at surface and at two meter level, exerted too much pressure on the trench walls causing the collapse of the walls.

In addition, the company did not issue any notice of commencement of works of engineering construction to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security as required by Regulation 3 of the Construction (Safety and Health) Regulations of the Factories Act, Cap 441 of the Laws of Zambia;

He said Contrary to Section 37 paragraph (1) of the Factories Act, China Henan International Corporation, did not take any measures to ensure safety at the site for the workers.

“China Henan International Corporation did not even have a copy of the Construction (Safety and Health) Regulations at the site contrary to Regulation 101 of the same Statutory Instrument.

The construction site had no trained First Aiders and First Aid boxes contrary to section 67 of the Act; and some workers were not registered with the Workers Compensation Fund Control Board,” Mr Shamenda said.