A temporary elevator plunged 25 floors of a high-rise condominium killing ten construction workers in the Philippine capital of Manila. They were installing glass windows when the elevator failed. The building’s owner, Eton Properties Phillippines, said the employees were glass contractors and were on a break. Instead of taking the stairs to go to top of the 39-story building, the workers decided to take the elevator, and dropped from the 32nd to the 7th floor. “However, since the platform can only carry a few workers, the cable snapped,” a statement read. According to news reports, a review of subcontractor and construction management safety regulations is underway. Construction has been stopped.
Eton is the global real estate branch of the Lucio Tan Group and the Philippine National Bank and Philippine Airline’s sister company. The Philippines have been experiencing construction boom since last year due to decreased interest rates, which led to an increased need for construction safety provisions. As a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, my thoughts are with the families and I hope the investigation reveals more concerning the accident. If you or a loved one are hurt in a construction accident, a personal injury attorney Los Angeles can help evaluate your case.
