The Fire Service Bureau (CB) said in a statement on Saturday morning that a false ceiling collapsed at Galaxy’s third phase construction site, and five people were injured at the scene.
According to the statement, a 33-year-old local male sustained an open fracture to his left elbow and was taken to the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre. The statement noted that a mainland worker remained stuck under the collapsed ceiling and needed to be rescued by firefighters. His back, face and knees were scratched by glass shards. He was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment. The statement also pointed out that three local workers aged between 28 and 47 claimed they sustained injuries to their right shoulders, hands and feet.
The statement noted that the collapsed ceiling covered an area of 150 square metres.
On the same day, Galaxy Entertainment Group said in a statement that it was urging the contractors to investigate the incident. The GEG statement said the company believed that the incident had something to do with the glass chandelier.
The statement underlined that three of the injured workers had quickly been discharged from the hospital, while two with more severe injuries were still hospitalised at the time of the statement. The resort operator warned the public of videos on the internet spreading false rumours, stressing that the incident shown in the video was not associated with this particular incident.
Meanwhile, the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) pledged in a statement on Saturday that it would help follow up on the workers’ injury claims. The statement said that the cause of the fallen ceiling was still under investigation, adding that the bureau had already notified the contractor to halt all construction work under the damaged area.
The DSAL statement said that soon after the incident, the bureau’s officials arrived at the scene. The statement said that after a preliminary investigation, the bureau discovered that the five people who were injured had been working under the collapsed false ceiling. The bureau suspected that the case may involve construction design or material quality issues. The statement underlined that the bureau will continue to investigate the matter.
The bureau reaffirmed that construction workers’ lives are of the utmost priority, stressing that the contractor is obligated to ensure that the working environment is safe and the equipment is working smoothly. The statement also said that the contractor should ensure that its workers follow the safety procedures to protect their well-being.
This photo provided by the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) yesterday shows the fallen ceiling at Galaxy’s third phase construction site.
