Three workers killed in crane collapse

BANGKOK, April 30 (TNA) - A big metal bar used in the construction of the mass rapid transit system in Don Mueang fell on a local road last night causing three deaths. A team of engineers from the Thailand Engineering Society arrived at the accident site in Don Mueang area this morning to inspect the accident. They collected the piece of metal bar, which is used to hold the concrete column against the steel platform, to undergo a lab test in order to determine the cause of the accident. Police officers questioned the workers and engineer who were on duty during the accident. The engineer insisted all procedures were carried out with the standard operation practices. According to the site engineer Mr Boonsueb Phankhum, the accident occurred while a truss bar was being slid across. One of the support holders fell off from its place causing the truss to fell off the ground with the workers who were on duty. Director-general of Labor Mr. Sumeth Mahosod said if the investigation findings found the accident was caused by the contractor's carelessness, the company will be prosecuted according to the labor law. This is not the first time an accident happened with this project. Relatives of the three workers will receive compensation package from the government's social security and compensation funds. Acting director of the State Railway of Thailand Mr Thanongsak Pongprasert said the construction was carried out by Italian-Thai Development, Inc. It is part of the Rangsit-Bang Sue Mass Rapid Transit (Red Line) system, which will connect from the current Bang Sue Station to Rangsit, north of Bangkok. The accident did not cause disruption to the operations of the inter-province rail lines which are located next to the site as the fell bar was on a local road near the rail tracks. (TNA)