Scaffolding collapse: Workers reported shaking, contractor still forced to continue working

According to the survivor of the scaffolding collapse at the Formosa construction site, before the horrific accident occurred, there were signs of the scaffolding shaking, but the contractor still forced the workers to work.

Regarding the scaffolding collapse at the Formosa construction site, some victims being treated at Ky Anh District General Hospital (Ha Tinh) said that 35 minutes before the incident, workers reported signs of shaking scaffolding, but a representative of the contractor Samsung of the Formosa Project still forced them to continue working.

Worker Nguyen Van Tai (from Nghe An) was lucky to escape death and recounted the incident.

Victim Ta Minh Hoang (born 1986, Ninh Binh province), who was lucky to escape death in the scaffolding collapse accident, said that 35 minutes before the scaffolding collapsed, the workers informed the contractor's representative to allow the workers to stop working. However, Mr. Ly Den (the manager at the construction site) still forced the workers to continue working because he thought the signs of shaking did not affect anything.

Mr. Cao Duong Nam (born 1980, Nghe An province), the manager of the machine operation team, said indignantly: "We are all workers here. We work hard but our wages are paid by the hour."

Mr. Nam explained: "Working by the hour, not by the day. There are 2 shifts a day, each shift is 21,500 VND, whoever works more gets more, whoever works less gets less. The 7am - 8am shift is the second shift of the day. Wages are calculated by the minute, so both the contractor and the workers take advantage of all the time. We work at a high intensity, without breaks, even though we are tired, even if "accidents" happen, as long as you finish the shift."

Victims recounted the terrifying moments when the scaffolding collapsed.

"When a huge block of iron and steel from the scaffolding collapsed to the ground, 47 workers who were directly present at the scaffolding area were all affected. The lucky ones escaped death, the unlucky ones died on the spot or were seriously injured. Those who escaped the rubble and raised their heads could only scream "Oh my god, everyone is dead" - Mr. Tran Quang Tuan (born 1973, Trieu Son district, Thanh Hoa province), a patient being treated at Ky Anh District General Hospital shared.

The patients also confided that after being hospitalized, they received attention, visits, and sympathy from agencies, organizations, leaders of Ha Tinh as well as the contractor Samsung. The contractor itself promised to take responsibility for this incident, and at the same time, will support all damages for the great loss of life, and ensure all policies for the injured and dead workers.

According to Infonet