The judiciary Police (PJ) said in a statement yesterday that a nurse had notified the police that a 31-year-old mainland man died after he fell from a building at Galaxy Entertainment Group’s (GEG) Phase 3 construction site in Cotai at 9:10 a.m. yesterday.
According to the statement, after investigation, it was found that the man was in charge of laying wires on the building’s ground floor. The statement said that workers at the site witnessed the man falling from a height –around five storeys, adding that the man’s back was bleeding. The statement said that the workers contacted the police.
The statement said that the police talked to the man’s supervisor who told them that the wiring work has already been completed. The supervisor also said that he had not told the victim to go to the fifth floor to work, adding that therefore the construction company did not understand why he would have fallen from that floor.
The statement noted that the police noticed open fractures on the man’s back, elbows and ankles, which were wounds that occurred after falling from a height.
The statement added that at the hospital, the police verified that the man was wearing safety gear. Therefore, the statement said, the police suspected that the case involved an industrial accident and police officers and the Labour Affairs Bureau’s (DSAL) officers arrived at the scene for further investigation.
The statement said that the police has classified the case as a dead body found.
DSAL halts construction higher than 2 metres
Meanwhile, a DSAL statement said that the bureau was paying close attention to the accident and temporarily stopped workers at Galaxy Phase 3 from working anywhere higher than two metres from the ground. The statement said that DSAL officials went to the scene to follow up on the situation. The bureau said that the respective construction company has the responsibility to ensure its workers’ safety.
The bureau vowed to continue investigating the accident and extended its deepest condolences to the man’s bereaved family. The statement said that it will follow up on compensation and provide suitable assistance to the family.
Galaxy’s responseA Galaxy Entertainment Group representative told The Macau Post Daily that “GEG takes the health and safety of all the workers on site as a priority. “With regard to the accident that happened this [yesterday] morning, we would like to express our sincere regrets, and extend our most heartfelt sympathies to the family members of the worker. “GEG has promptly and fully cooperated with government authorities in carrying out rescue work and investigation, and ensured the relevant contractor will strictly abide by the guidelines issued by the Labor Affairs Bureau.
“In addition, GEG has and will continue to work with the relevant contractor to provide necessary assistance to the family members of the worker and handle the related compensation matters.
“To closely follow up with the case, GEG will continue to fully cooperate with government authorities and also the relevant stakeholders. Since the case is under police investigation, no further information can be provided at this stage.”
This handout photo provided by the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) yesterday shows its officials visiting the construction site where the mainland man died after falling from a height.
