The Emall freight elavator, which suffered from mechanical failure, crushing to death a delivery man last Monday. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
A string of violations were discovered by Cebu City officials when they conducted an occular inspection of the cargo elevator inside Elizabeth Mall (Emall), which crushed to death a delivery man Monday afternoon.
Gan Go Trading, the owner of the cargo elevator, operated the elevator without a permit from City Hall since 2011 and did not do any preventive maintenance checks, said Councilor Dave Tumulak, head of the city council committee on public order and safety.
“It was found out that the accident happened due to mechanical failure. They have no permits and they are also not doing preventive maintenance activities,” Tumulak told reporters yesterday.
Tumulak visited the accident site yesterday morning together with personnel from the Office of the Building Official (OBO).
He suggested that management would put up caution signs near the elevator.
Amistad Udto, 24, was loading some cargo onto the elevator from the fourth floor of the building where the trading company is located, when its cables snapped fell on him, crushing him to death.
By the time he was brought to the St. Vincent Hospital, he was already declared dead on arrival.
OBO personnel will submit a report with its recommendations about the accident.
According to OBO Chief, Engr. Josefa Ylanan, mechanical and electrical engineers were sent to inspect the site.
She said that since the accident resulted to the death of Udto, they will be referring the matter to the city legal office as well.
It is possible that OBO would impose fines and sanctions against the owner of Gan Go Trading.
Meanwhile, Tumulak said he plans to push for legislative measures that would ensure well-maintained facilities like elevators and escalators in the city.
He said he will propose an ordinance mandating establishment owners to regularly maintain their facilities like elevators and cargo lifters and put caution signs near them.
He added that there is also a need to establish an emergency response system within the establishments so that they can immediately respond to similar accidents.