In a freak accident in Wan Hai Lines’ terminal in Taiwan’s Kaohsiung port, a crane operator was killed on 20 November after the vehicle rolled over.
The crane was involved in refurbishment works around wharf 81, which is in Terminal 5. Wan Hai is spending US$253 million on sprucing up the facility after taking over the terminal lease from Evergreen Marine Corporation, which has shifted its operations to Terminal 7.
Around 8 am local time, as some steel pipes were hoisted, the lifting cable came loose, plunging the pipes into the sea. The impact caused the crane to flip over. The victim, 66, had jumped out of the crane as it tilted, but did not manage to avoid the falling vehicle, which collapsed on him, fatally crushing him. Paramedics pronounced the victim dead on the spot.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor has ordered the crane owner to stop works and is investigating whether the crane owner violated the provisions of the Occupational Safety Law and failed to provide workers with appropriate safety equipment and measures. If found guilty, the crane owner could be fined up to 300,000 yuan.
An official at the Bureau of Labor’s Kaohsiung branch was quoted on Taiwanese television as saying: “The employer seems to have failed to consider the working space, the performance of the crane, and the weight of the objects being moved, to plan in advance and adopt appropriate working methods, thereby causing a disaster.”
Wan Hai stated that it has suspended work around Terminal 5 to cooperate with the investigation, and is assisting the subcontractor in handling the follow-up, and improving the safety management. The Bureau of Labor is assisting the victim’s family and ensuring compensation is processed.
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
