The union boss expressed concerns that the shade might entirely collapse
if corrective measures are not put into place, hence putting the lives of
workers at risk.
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| KPA Acting Managing Director Rashid Salim |
Dock Workers Union (DWU) secretary general Mr Simon Sang has
raised concerns over safety of workers at the Kenya Ports Authority. Mr Sang
accused the port management of negligence, saying this was one of the reasons
for a recent fatal accident at the facility. Two workers died on Friday evening
while six others were injured after a silo bin fell on them at the Portside
Freight Container Station at shade number 7/8.
The silo bin is said to have collapsed on the workers where
they were offloading fertiliser. Mr Sanga said the shade where the accident
occurred was designed for transit cargo and not for bagging machines.
“The shade is unable to sustain the kind of equipment that
has been put at the moment. It was meant to temporarily store cargo that is
being offloaded from the vessels awaiting immediate delivery,” said Mr Sang.
He expressed concerns that the shade might entirely collapse
if corrective measures are not put into place, hence putting the lives of
workers at risk.
Kenya Ports Authority acting managing director Rashid Salim
termed the incident as unfortunate adding that investigation has been launched
to establish the cause of the accident.
“We regret to confirm that an accident happened inside the
port at shed number 7/8 when engineers from a private firm were commissioning
bins for handling fertiliser. It is unfortunate that two people have been
confirmed dead and six others injured,” said Mr Salim in a statement.
He said the management have teamed up with authorities to find
out cause of the accident for the necessary action to be taken.
Coast regional commissioner John Elungata confirmed that
relevant authorities have taken up the matter.
This is not the first time port workers are dying of
accidents at the facility.
Last year, an employee from Likoni Sub county in Mombasa died
after he was buried alive by clinker in one of the berths.
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