Four workers die after falling six stories
Four men plunged six storeys to their deaths last month after a maintenance cradle they were working from collapsed.
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Four men plunged six storeys to their deaths last month after a maintenance cradle they were working from collapsed.
Three of the men died at the scene outside Ansar Mall in Sharjah. A fourth man succumbed to his injuries later in intensive care in Kuwait Hospital, The National reported.
The deaths of the workers, who were apparently not wearing safety harnesses, triggered calls for greater safety in the construction industry.
The team was erecting an advertising banner for a new restaurant when the accident happened. Officials from the mall said the men worked for Al Reyami Signs and Advertising, and the company had authorization from the municipality to erect the advertisement.
The cradle was owned by Al Binaya Construction, but rented out to V8 Advertising, which had leased the equipment to Al Reyami. Mohammed Salim, a manager of Al Binaya Construction, was among those questioned yesterday by the police. He told The National: "In the first place, I rented the cradle to V8 Advertising and I don’t know about Al Reyami. “After getting the cradle they have to call a safety company and inspect it as well as the place [it is to be used] and receive a safety certificate." He said he was "100%" certain the cradle was in good condition.
Abdul Rashid Baloti, the operations manager at V8 Advertising, said he had worked only as a "middle man" between the construction company and Al Reyami, which had approached him seeking a cradle.
Al Reyami officials turned down a request by the newspaper to comment.
