Three laborers die after crane collapses
Evi Mariani, Jakarta
Three construction workers died instantly and three others were injured after a crane, which they were working on, collapsed on Monday at around 10:30 a.m.
The six workers had not been using the proper safety equipment while working on the ongoing construction of the 12th level of Sudirman Central Business District (SCBD) Suites apartment building in Senayan, South Jakarta.
According to Law No. 13/2003 on manpower, all companies must apply a health and work safety system that is integrated into their management system.
PT Jamsostek insurance company reported 103,804 work-related accidents took place in 2002 and 104,774 in 2001 nationwide.
Meanwhile, the International Labor Organization (ILO) recently reported that around 2.2 million people die annually due to their jobs. From that figure, 350,000 people are killed due to accidents in the workplace.
The workers work on a daily basis with a Rp 25,000 (US$2.89) daily stipend. The contractor of the construction is PT Perusahaan Pembangunan (PP). Its headquarters is located on Jl. TB Simatupang No. 57, South Jakarta.
Only two of the three fatalities were identified as Daniel and Bahok. Another worker has not yet been identified.
The three injured workers -- Wagimin, 47, Sugiyanto, 42, and Rebo, 21 -- were observed at the Pertamina Hospital in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, wearing casual clothes.
Wagimin, who only suffered minor injuries, was wearing a batik shirt and short pants. He was barefoot and no sturdy work boots were visible around his bed in the hospital's Emergency Room.
"The incident happened so fast... I can't remember the details. All I knew was we were falling so fast. I could only think of how to save my life, so I gripped tightly onto something like a rope that was within my reach," he said.
In the afternoon, Wagimin and Sugiyanto, who also suffered minor injuries, were discharged from the hospital. But Rebo, who suffered severe wounds to his left temple, had to stay overnight.
Witnesses at the site said the three had died instantly as they had jumped from the falling crane before it touched the ground.
No official statement, either from the construction supervisor or the police, was available to explain the cause of the accident.
Kebayoran Baru Police detective chief First Insp. Robert De Deo said the police would investigate the case to identify whether the incident was caused by human error or the negligence of the company.
"We have yet to question any officials of the contractor because they are on holiday. We will summon them tomorrow," he said.
Many companies compensate for accidents in the workplace by covering all medical expenses, or giving the families of the victims money. The families usually take the compensation and do not report the incident to the police, believing that the death of their loved one was simply a matter of fate.