SBMA issues ‘notice of violation’ to Hanjin
Freeport authorities noted violations might have been in place since the start of its operations
By Anthony Bayarong -Manila Times Correspondent
SUBIC BAY Freeport: The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority issued Monday a notice of violation to Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries Co.-Philippines, Inc. (HHIC-Phil), one week after a blast inside its work site killed two workers and injured several others.
In a statement from SBMA, the said notice was for “violations of safety standards” by the Korean firm, following investigations that indicated five out of 12 safety procedures listed by the Freeport authority were violated.
The five violations included the company’s failure to organize an effective safety and health committee and the absence of a company physician and safety officers. Also it was found that the work site had inadequate, even inappropriate personal protective equipment, as it lacked sufficient safety signage.
Ecology Center manager Amethay DL. Koval said the notice of violation carried with it corresponding fines and penalties for each violation noted.
She said the issuance of a notice of violation is part of the agency’s compliance monitoring protocol, which identifies safety and environmental issues and prescribes corresponding measures that the concerned company need to adapt or comply with.
“For each issue noted, we gave out appropriate requirements and the company would have to comply with these,” Koval explained, adding that HHIC-Phil has made efforts to correct some of the 12 safety issues noted during the investigation. “But we had to serve a notice of violation for the five safety issues we mentioned.
Among the more glaring lapses found by the SBMA Ecology Center’s Occupational Health and Safety who investigated the incident was the revelation by Hanjin safety officers that not all workers in the shipyard were issued personal protective equipment.
Yet even those without protective equipment were allowed to work, with the HHIC-Phil management simply advising said workers “to take extra caution,” the report said.
In an interview with the Manila Times, Koval said that the violations might have been in place since Hanjin started its operation inside the free port in March 2007 and that they were still determining the total amount of fines the company will be charged by SBMA.
Once the amount is determined, Koval said Hanjin will be fined from March 2007 to the present or until the company has complied with required safety measures.
The statement added that the company is still awaiting approval by Hanjin’s parent company in Korea of its request to hire a company physician and a dentist, and to create a safety and health committee, which shall set occupational health standards and implement effective safety measures in the shipyard.
SBMA also confirmed initial findings that the fire, which killed two workers and injured four others, was due to leaking oxygen that was ignited by sparks from a grinding machine.
In its report SBMA said that the fire “may have been exacerbated by the presence of lube oil on the flooring” of the ship compartment.
In view of the lapses mentioned, Koval said the SBMA has required the Hanjin management to fast track the approval of its safety and health committee, to expedite the hiring of a company physician, to hire more safety officers on top of its 28 safety personnel, and to implement an emergency contingency plan, among others.
By Anthony Bayarong -Manila Times Correspondent
SUBIC BAY Freeport: The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority issued Monday a notice of violation to Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries Co.-Philippines, Inc. (HHIC-Phil), one week after a blast inside its work site killed two workers and injured several others.
In a statement from SBMA, the said notice was for “violations of safety standards” by the Korean firm, following investigations that indicated five out of 12 safety procedures listed by the Freeport authority were violated.
The five violations included the company’s failure to organize an effective safety and health committee and the absence of a company physician and safety officers. Also it was found that the work site had inadequate, even inappropriate personal protective equipment, as it lacked sufficient safety signage.
Ecology Center manager Amethay DL. Koval said the notice of violation carried with it corresponding fines and penalties for each violation noted.
She said the issuance of a notice of violation is part of the agency’s compliance monitoring protocol, which identifies safety and environmental issues and prescribes corresponding measures that the concerned company need to adapt or comply with.
“For each issue noted, we gave out appropriate requirements and the company would have to comply with these,” Koval explained, adding that HHIC-Phil has made efforts to correct some of the 12 safety issues noted during the investigation. “But we had to serve a notice of violation for the five safety issues we mentioned.
Among the more glaring lapses found by the SBMA Ecology Center’s Occupational Health and Safety who investigated the incident was the revelation by Hanjin safety officers that not all workers in the shipyard were issued personal protective equipment.
Yet even those without protective equipment were allowed to work, with the HHIC-Phil management simply advising said workers “to take extra caution,” the report said.
In an interview with the Manila Times, Koval said that the violations might have been in place since Hanjin started its operation inside the free port in March 2007 and that they were still determining the total amount of fines the company will be charged by SBMA.
Once the amount is determined, Koval said Hanjin will be fined from March 2007 to the present or until the company has complied with required safety measures.
The statement added that the company is still awaiting approval by Hanjin’s parent company in Korea of its request to hire a company physician and a dentist, and to create a safety and health committee, which shall set occupational health standards and implement effective safety measures in the shipyard.
SBMA also confirmed initial findings that the fire, which killed two workers and injured four others, was due to leaking oxygen that was ignited by sparks from a grinding machine.
In its report SBMA said that the fire “may have been exacerbated by the presence of lube oil on the flooring” of the ship compartment.
In view of the lapses mentioned, Koval said the SBMA has required the Hanjin management to fast track the approval of its safety and health committee, to expedite the hiring of a company physician, to hire more safety officers on top of its 28 safety personnel, and to implement an emergency contingency plan, among others.
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