Two workers crushed to death in Kuningan

JAKARTA (JP): Two construction workers at the Menara 2000 project in Kuningan, South Jakarta, were crushed to death yesterday by a falling drive sheave from a temporary lift.

Katijo, 37, a resident of Jl. Aren, Bintaro, South Jakarta and Suwardi, 30, a resident of Srengseng Sawah, East Jakarta, died instantaneously, having been struck on the back of their heads, Ujang Komarudin, a supervisor of the project said.

"They were hit by the lift's broken drive sheave and hoist cables," Ujang said.

First Sgt. Soegeng Budi of the Setiabudi police subprecinct said the accident was reported to the police at 8:30 a.m. He added that the two men had not been wearing safety helmets at the time.

Ujang said that besides Katijo and Suwardi, two other workers -- Katino and Abidin -- were injured in the accident. They were admitted to UKI general hospital in Cawang, East Jakarta.

He said the lift, attached to the outside of the building, was still stuck on the 28th floor.

Ujang said that this month alone the lift had stuck three times. The incidents were reported to PT Tata Mulia, the main project contractor.

The 36-story building project has been subcontracted to PT Sentral Bangunan to complete the exterior finishing touches, he said. The Rp 120 billion (US$45.28 million) venture is expected to be completed later this year.

The PT Sentral Bangunan personnel manager, Iwan Hadi, said he had rung Tata Mulia several times to inform the company about the incident, but had got no response.

"I am so sorry for this accident," he said, pledging to talk to Tata Mulia, which is responsible for the project. (04)