Falling from Height: Tilted Gondola Takes a Life

A construction worker fell to his death from a tilted gondola at a
construction worksite this year.

The tragedy happened while two workers were attempting to reposition a gondola on the external cantilevered platform at the 9th storey of a building under construction. While one of the workers had repositioned the outriggers at the top of the building, the deceased who was inside the gondola attempted to tension the cables with the climbers. As a result, the gondola tilted and the deceased plunged to his death.

Investigation by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is still in progress.

Advisory Note
(Please note that the advisory note is provided for the benefits of enhancing workplace safety and health, in no way the information is to be misconstrued as implying any liability on any party)

1. All works involving the erection, installation, alteration and dismantling of suspended scaffold shall be undertaken by an Approved Suspended Scaffold Contractor.
2. The suspended scaffold, including its suspension ropes and climbers must be in good condition and free from defects. A maintenance programme must be implemented to ensure proper working condition of the suspended scaffold.
3. A competent person shall be appointed to carry out the necessary inspections on the
   suspended scaffold prior to use, and after any event that could affect the safe operation of the scaffold.
4. All operators of the suspended scaffold must be adequately trained in the proper use of the scaffold. All persons riding on the suspended scaffold shall be equipped with a safety harness which shall be attached to an independent lifeline at all times.
5. All handheld tools used in a suspended scaffold must be properly secured to prevent them from dropping out of the scaffold. The area below the scaffold must be cordoned off to prevent the risk of objects falling down on any persons.
6. Adequate risk assessment shall be conducted for the use of suspended scaffolds. All erectors/operators/users of suspended scaffold shall be briefed on the safe work procedures that have been established.

This article was extracted from OHS Alert dated 4 December 2006, issued by the Ministry of Manpower.