Lift where worker died operating sans permit
The cargo lifter that crashed and killed a delivery man at a mall in Cebu City last Monday has been operating without permit since 2011.
This is what the city government found out during inspection yesterday.
While the cargo lifter is located inside Elizabeth Mall, it is being operated and managed by Gan Go Trading and not by the mall management itself, said Councilor David Tumulak, head of the City Council committee on public order and safety.
Tumulak was joined by mechanical and electrical engineers from the Office of the Building Official (OBO) during the inspection.
They found out that the cargo lifter experienced mechanical malfunction last Monday and that it has not undergone preventive maintenance. No signage on safety procedures was also placed.
“So it was also found out nga dunay mechanical malfunction sa ilahang lifter sa ilahang monitor kay based on the allegation sa mga witnesses nga kini si Mr. Udto usa ni siya ka empleyado sa Air Speed. Gikan ni siya nag-deliver og mga beauty products diha sa level 4 sa Gan Go Trading. Right after sa iyahang pag-deliver, iyang gisulod pagbalik ang cart didto sa cargo lifter so pagsulod, nikalit og hagsa ang iyahang bucket, mao tong naipit siya didto,” Tumulak said.
The cargo lifter, which functions like an elevator, is intended to transport products to other levels of the building.
OBO chief Engineer Josefa Ylanan said they will have to refer their recommendations to the City Legal Office before they can disclose the sanctions they will give on the trading company.
Tumulak said Gan Go Trading would have to meet certain requirements because they can be issued a permit to operate the cargo lifter.
“Pangayoon sa electrical engineer diri sa OBO is ang iyahang preventive maintenance check-up, either monthly weekly, in ana, prior sa issuance sa permit. The structural plan, ug technical specification sa cargo lifter,” Tumulak said.