The DOLE Quezon Provincial Office Safety Engineers conducted an Occupational Safety and Health Investigation at the construction site of a 1.6MW Mini Hydro Electric Power Plant project located in Cagsiay II, Mauban, Quezon on January 22, 2021 which claimed the life of one worker.

Based on the report of DOLE Engineers Rudelyn G. Bautista and Donna Melany R. Abanilla, witness Jurlan Jabonita narrated that around 4:30 pm of January 21, 2021 seven construction workers decided to go home despite the heavy downpour of rain by crossing the spillway which at that time was over filled above waist line by the rushing waters of the river.  Of the seven workers, three slipped down causing their fall straight to the river.  The two workers managed to swim towards the river bank but the other worker, Rongine Santoalla, was not fortunate to swim away from the rushing river flow leading to his drowning and causing his untimely death.    

Among the findings of the Safety Engineers during inspection were the non-presentation of the owner, Enervantage Suppliers Co., Inc., of their PCAB license to do construction works, absence of safety officer and health personnel at the project site and there was no installed safety device (life line) along the spillway where the workers usually cross when going in and out of work.

 As a consequence of the accident which led to fatality of one worker, DOLE penalized the owner with the payment of P100,000 for violating Section 29 of Department Order No. 198 series of 2018 which states that “when the violation exposes the workers to death, serious injury or serious illness, the imposable penalty shall be One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000).”  Moreover, a Work Stoppage Order was also issued by Regional Director Henry John S. Jalbuena to prevent similar accident from occurring in the future which may be caused by unpredictable weather condition and non-installation of safety device to ensure safety of the workers.

Submitted by:

EDWIN T. HERNANDEZ

Head, Quezon Provincial Office