News
Construction worker in fatal fall from 16th floor
View(s):A worker fell to his death from the 16th floor when he was fixing a scaffolding at a 50-storey building in Colombo, in the second such death in as many months, raising concern over safety measures at construction sites.
The victim was identified as Wimal Karunaratne (48) a resident of Minipe.
The incident took place at a construction site at Union Place around 6.30 p.m. on Tuesday, a coroner’s inquiry was told.
Site supervisor Sampath Samaraweera said the worker had not used a safety belt when he was fixing the scaffolding . He fell from the scaffolding along with the plank which he was fixing.
He said the worker was not in the habit of wearing the safety belt although he wore head gear and other safety attire. The victim was taken to the National Hospital and was pronounced dead on admission.
Judicial Medical officer Dr. D.LM. Senanayake who conducted the postmortem examination ruled that the death was from a blunt force trauma due to the injuries he suffered, especially to the chest and abdominal area.
Coroner M. Ashroof Rumi ordered the Maradana Police to produce the construction company manager in the coroner’s court on September 2.