Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Chan Wun Man said in a statement on Saturday that a non-resident worker (NRW) from the mainland died after “suffering an electric shock” when repairing spotlights installed on an advertising hoarding on the rooftop of an industrial building on Avenida Son On in Taipa, with his two workmates.
The statement noted that the male victim, surnamed Zhang, is aged 31.
According to the statement, the Judiciary Police were notified at 7:14 p.m. on Saturday by the public Conde de S. Januário Hospital Centre that the man, who had been rushed for emergency treatment by ambulance after “having suffered an electric shock”, was certified dead.
The statement noted that at about 6:10 p.m. on that day, Zhang and one of his colleagues standing on the hoarding removed the spotlights and metal supports from it. After replacing the bulb, his colleague held the spotlight while Zhang held the metal supports that were used to connect the spotlights to the advertising hoarding to wait for another colleague to switch on the power supply to test if the spotlight was working.
The statement said that after switching on the power supply, Zhang suddenly gave a loud cry and fell into a coma, adding that one of his colleagues standing on the billboard also felt an electric shock.
Therefore, the other colleague immediately switched the light and the power supply off and called the police.
Upon examination of the body, Zhang’s palms were black, suspected to have been caused by electrocution, but no suspicious injuries were found, according to the statement.
The statement said that the Judiciary Police have classified the case as a dead body found, adding that the exact cause of death still needed to be confirmed by a forensic examination.
The Public Security Police (PSP) noted in a statement earlier that day that the name of the industrial building is Pou Kuong Industrial Centre
35-year-old NRW hurt by ceiling beam: DSAL
Meanwhile, according to a Fire Services Bureau (CB) statement yesterday, a 35-year-old non-resident worker sustained a chest contusion in an industrial accident on the Galaxy Macau Phase 4 construction site in Cotai. The statement said that the worker who was not breathing and had no signs of a heartbeat, was rushed to the public Conde de S. Januário Hospital Centre.
A statement by the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) yesterday said that the victim was injured when operating a cherry picker (mobile elevating work platform), adding that he or she was injured by a ceiling beam when the cherry picker was rising.
Neither statement identified the gender of the worker.
DSAL ‘extremely concerned’ about both accidents
Meanwhile, the Labour Affairs Bureau said in two separate statements yesterday and on Saturday that it was “extremely concerned” about both accidents.
The bureau also said it conveyed its condolences to Zhang’s family and the Galaxy worker, adding that it would assist them in the follow-up of compensation details.
The causes of both accidents are subject to further investigation, the bureau noted, if there were violations of relevant Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) regulations, the respective companies will be punished according to the law.
This photo taken yesterday shows the Pou Kuong Industrial Centre on Avenida Son On in Taipa, where the mainland NRW was fatally electrocuted. – Photo: Yuki Lei
This handout photo provided by the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) yesterday shows two DSAL staff members and a worker inspecting the scene where a work accident happened on the Galaxy Macau Phase 4 construction site in Cotai earlier in the day.
