EM – Two people were tragically killed during the repair of the elevator. The people involved in the case are having to explain to the authorities and face a high risk of being entangled in prison. The families of the victims with the great pain of losing loved ones, losing the breadwinner in the family… Such tragic events could not have happened if the safety regulations were strictly followed.
Fatal accidents
On the evening of May 25, a serious accident occurred at a 7-storey house in lane 523 Kim Ma (Ngoc Khanh ward, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi) which was in the process of being repaired and renovated. The elevator cabin from the 7th floor fell freely, killing 2 workers working on the roof of the cabin and in the pit. Ba Dinh district police have identified the two dead victims, both technical workers of an elevator service company.
The house – the scene of the accident at lane 523 Kim Ma – Hanoi
At the beginning of May 2022, in Ho Chi Minh City, while a 28-year-old technician, from Hai Duong, was fixing elevator cables, a colleague (26 years old, from Tien Giang province) stepped into the elevatỏ to make the elevator lift. The overload fell from the 7th floor. The accident caused 2 technical staff members to suffer spinal injuries, hospitalized in a state of pain, completely paralyzed in both legs.
Another accident during the installation of the elevator occurred at the end of April 2022, killing a technician from Hung Yen province.
Previously, the fall of a cage hoist at the construction site of the Nghe An Department of Finance on the afternoon of January 2, 2021 killed 3 people and injured 8 other workers from 76-95%.
The accidents mentioned above are all very serious and are related to improper implementation or disregard of regulations and occupational safety procedures. However, there are other accidents of varying severity that the service hirer, the service provider and the victim’s family agree to compensate by themselves, but the public cannot access it… This move causing the statistics on occupational accidents to be misleading, leading to a lack of warning signals about the severity to the community.
Deadly loopholes in occupational safety
According to statistics, in 2021, there were more than 6,000 occupational accidents nationwide, causing 6,658 accidents, 786 deaths, the total cost of occupational accidents and property damage was nearly 4,000 billion VND and more than 116,000 work day. Among the accidents, deaths, injuries, material damage, etc., there are elevator accidents.
Regarding the accident at house number 12 in lane 523 Kim Ma, according to Elevator Magazine’s own source, in early May 2022, the tenant signed a contract to hire Safety Vietnam Company to “increase floor number”, at the house above and the accident happened.
Experts from Vietnam Institute of Lift Engineering Application said that raising the elevator floor is a very complicated job, even more complicated than installing a new elevator. Because this work involves many important equipment and components of the elevator. For example, to calculate traction machine power, change the rope, extend the guide rail, extend the shaft, fix the pit and many other technical work items…
With such a complex series of jobs, it requires highly qualified and experienced technical personnel and corresponding safety aids. Meanwhile, two technicians working at the same time in two different dangerous positions but without support is wrong procedure and safety measures. The image shows that the technical staff is replacing the rope, but the rudimentary and insecure cabin anchoring tool has led to a catastrophic accident.
It can be affirmed that elevator technicians have to work in very dangerous conditions.
Firstly, elevator technicians working in tight spaces in shaft, pit, cabins, machine rooms…, working at height with mechanical equipment, electrical equipment, ropes, all have potential hazards. In fact, elevators belong to the List of machines, equipment and materials with strict requirements on occupational safety, but the strict implementation of regulations on occupational safety is a very difficult issue to control.
Second, there are no specific regulations for enterprises when recruiting technical staff. For example, regulations on qualifications, skills, certificates of training courses of technical staff… For a long time, there have been many enterprises providing technical services but recruiting poorly qualified employees or laborers. common in seasonal work. This is also the cause of many elevator accidents.
Third, the control of safety regulations and procedures for elevator-related jobs seems to have been neglected and faced with many difficulties. Contrary to apartment elevators, elevators in individual houses are almost unmanaged.
In addition, elevator inspection is a mandatory regulation under the Law, but for residential houses, most only require repair and maintenance when there is a breakdown or breakdown. Many families disregard maintenance and inspection. And it is very difficult to track whether these elevators of the people are inspected or not.
What to do to contribute to preventing and limiting occupational accidents in the elevator industry?
The Law on Occupational Safety 2015 clearly stipulates the assurance of occupational safety and hygiene; policies and regimes for people suffering from occupational accidents and diseases; responsibilities and powers of organizations and individuals related to occupational safety and health and state management of occupational safety and health.
Trial of the crash of the cage hoist in Nghe An in January 2022
Along with that, Article 295 of the 2015 Penal Code, amended in 2017, crimes of violating regulations on occupational safety, occupational hygiene and safety in crowded places are as follows:
1.Those who violate regulations on occupational safety, occupational hygiene and safety in crowded places, causing damage to others in one of the following circumstances, shall be subject to a fine of from VND 20,000,000 up to VND 100,000,000, non-custodial reform for up to 3 years or imprisonment from 1 to 5 years:
a) Causing death
b) Inflicting injury or causing harm to the health of 1 person with an injury rate of 61% or higher;
c) Inflicting injury or causing harm to the health of 02 or more people with the total injury rate of these persons from 61% to 121%;
d) Causing property damage of between VND 100,000,000 and under VND 500,000,000.
2. Committing the crime in one of the following circumstances, the offenders shall be sentenced to between 03 and 07 years of imprisonment:
a) Causing death of 02 people;
b) Inflicting injury or causing harm to the health of 02 or more people with a total injury rate of between 122% and 200%;
c) Causing property damage of between VND 500,000,000 and under VND 1,500,000,000;
d) Being responsible for occupational safety, occupational hygiene and safety in crowded places.
3. Committing the crime in one of the following circumstances, the offenders shall be sentenced to between 06 and 12 years of imprisonment:
a) Causing death of 03 people or more;
b) Inflicting injury or causing harm to the health of 03 or more people with a total injury rate of 201% or more of these persons;
c) Causing property damage of VND 1,500,000,000 or more.
4. Violations against regulations on occupational safety, occupational hygiene and safety in crowded places in cases where there is a real possibility to lead to consequences specified in one of Points a, b and c, Clause 3 If this is not prevented in time, the offenders shall be subject to non-custodial reform for up to two years or a prison term of between three months and two years.
5. The offenders may also be subject to a fine of between VND 10,000,000 and 50,000,000, a ban from holding certain posts, practicing certain professions or doing certain jobs for one to five years.
Along with regulations and sanctions related to occupational safety, thorough analysis and public disclosure of the causes to draw deep experience after accidents are also necessary and effective solutions to reduce occupational accidents. However, in reality, this information is often very limited to be published, causing the public to lack warning information.
From a professional perspective, authorities and state management should strengthen consultation with professional associations, including the Vietnam Elevator Association. From there, develop and supplement occupational safety policies in general, related to elevators in particular, contributing to the prevention and reduction of accidents./.
