Thursday, April 03, 2008 Balamban accident isolated: firm's probe
AFTER a “thorough” investigation, the panel of investigators created by Metaphil Inc. concluded that Saturday’s accident was “an isolated case of a weldment that gave way.”
In a news conference yesterday, Metaphil Inc. officials explained that they analyzed all the erection procedures, welding and the structural design of the building and said all these were in order.
They also said the materials used were certified and of good quality.
Enerio Yangco, Metaphil Inc.’s vice president for operations, explained that it took them some time to release their report because they checked on all the aspects of the construction, including the design of the building, the calculations and the materials used.
“They were all in order,” Yangco said.
Because the design calculations and all other requirements were met, they concluded that the case was isolated.
In yesterday’s briefing, Yangco showed a simulation of what happened.
The simulation showed that one column on the left side of the structure was the weak part.
The column got bent and it brought down the six trusses covering a span of 30 meters.
The trusses weighed about 16 tons.
The four who died went down with the trusses while the six who were wounded were on the other side of the weak column and were left hanging on the structure.
Harnesses
Jonathan Bendebel, assistant vice president for construction, said all workers were required to wear safety harnesses when working at a height of six meters up. The trusses were about 18 meters high.
To make sure their findings are correct, they are hiring the services of C.N. Ramientos Engineering Consultants to validate their findings and to review reports of their future projects.
They will also conduct a complete reinspection of all critical welded connections and double their inspections of requirements.
Zelma Yap, Metaphil vice president for marketing, said that after 30 years of operations, this was the first accident they encountered.
She added that for the 12 years that they have been working with Tsuneishi Heavy Industries, they have built the same structures with the same designs and specifications.
Aside from taking care of burial and hospital expenses, the company also pledged to compensate the immediate families of the victims.
Chris Camba of the human resource department said they will also try to find employment and will offer scholarship grants to the children through the Aboitiz Group Foundation.
Camba said the son of Romeo Dindin just graduated from high school last Monday.
Dindin also had a 19-year-old son who was out of school. Camba said they could enroll him at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) as a welder and he could be offered employment in the company.
Accountability
The wife of Israel Torcullas will also be offered a job as company nurse so she can be closer to their child.
She had worked as a nurse in Surigao City while Torcullas stayed in Balamban to watch over their child.
Camba said that if any of the children or immediate family members had skills that the company needed, they would be offered jobs at Metaphil.
“We are taking full responsibility and will face all accountabilities arising from this incident,” said Zeny Novabos, chief information officer. (MEA)
