3 die after falling from 18-meter scaffolding in western Japan

It remains unknown whether the three workers from the Shikoku Dockyard Co were wearing helmets and safety ropes.

Can tell you this, wearing a helmet and safety lanyard is not going to be of any help when the scaffolding collapses and fall from 18 meters!

safety lanyard is not going to be of any help 

A properly fixed safety lanyard would have saved their lives as they would have only fallen a very short distance until the safety rope stopped their fall and left them hanging; that's what they are for.

Properly fixed to what? The scaffolding? Safety lanyards aren't in the Harry Potter realm of magic...

Tragic. They were also so young.

Those safety rules need to be enforced more seriously in the future in order to prevent those tragedies.

It remains unknown whether the three workers from the Shikoku Dockyard Co were wearing helmets and safety ropes.

That they fell 18 m would indicate that they were not connected to safety ropes.

Already trying to pin the blame on the workers, before even an investigation can occur. Try the deceased in the court of public opinion and shift blame from the company. Shady.

A proper safety lanyard connected to an independent fixing point, eg a hook welded to the vessel would have saved them, in those circumstances, secured helmets/ goggles would have avoided bruised heads. Tragic, wait until we hear if the scaff had been inspected & signed off and if any 3rd party force at G.L. caused any effect. No blame to the workers please (strings of construction pro letters after me name)

Despite many technological advances in shipbuilding over the last 70 years, the same type of accidents can still occur and be lifetaking. RIP.

Scaffolding are used day in and day out at a shipyard without any incidents. Definitely would want to know if it was inspected and properly secured in this case.

You hear a lot about Japan’s great work ethic, but nobody talks about the horrendous work safety conditions in certain industries. Construction sites, manufacturing floors—it’s like safety is an afterthought. Profit seems to come first, even at the expense of workers lives. It’s incredible how Japanese companies ignore labor laws to keep their costs low. Do the higher-ups turn a blind eye to unsafe work environments, while employees are left to suffer? How about enforcing some standards for a change?

RIP to the victims of this avoidable tragedy.

But Jay, it says anzen daiichi quite clearly on the wall. That makes them champions of safety.

A sad workplace disaster. Three young men dead. It is dangerous work. Regardless of safety protocols industrail accidents is dangerous work sometimes occur. That is why people, virtually all men, get paid more than shop assistants.

Harry_GattoOct. 27 08:13 am JST

safety lanyard is not going to be of any help 

A properly fixed safety lanyard would have saved their lives as they would have only fallen a very short distance until the safety rope stopped their fall and left them hanging; that's what they are for.

What do you think the safety lanyard attaches to? It attaches to the scaffolding so if it collapses they go down with it.

They wouldn’t be wearing a lanyard and harness working on a scaffold, it is the fall protection. It’s supposed to securely fixed or have outriggers extended and rails installed. The question is why did the scaffold collapse? Was it put up properly? Was it maintained properly? Had it been adjusted and inspected? Was it struck?

Here are the US Navy's guidance on shipyard scaffolding.

https://navalsafetycommand.navy.mil/Portals/100/Documents/Risk-Card-07-2024-Scaffolding.pdf

Dave FairToday  04:49 am JST

What do you think the safety lanyard attaches to? It attaches to the scaffolding so if it collapses they go down with it.

The answer is in the word "properly". Maybe in your world properly means fixed to the scaffolding but in mine, and that of anyone with any common sense, it means fixed to a secure point otherwise it is pointless and unsafe and any safety inspector worth his salt would not permit it.

Harry_Gatto, the only time any worker will be using a fall arrest system on a scaffold is when it’s being put up and is incomplete. The reason for this is that a fall arrest is less safe, requires more training than a working platform and requires a rescue plan.

The lanyard conversation is a red herring unless the workers were putting up the scaffold, which is not what the story indicates. A scaffold collapse is a very serious but thankfully rare issue. The authorities will be looking at the scaffold records to ensure that it was being used safely.

I’ve worked in Japanese construction and it’s definitely not a safe workplace. There was hardly ever a quality assurance individual checking on us.

iron manOct. 27  11:54 am JST

A proper safety lanyard connected to an independent fixing point, eg a hook welded to the vessel would have saved them, in those circumstances, secured helmets/ goggles would have avoided bruised heads. Tragic, wait until we hear if the scaff had been inspected & signed off and if any 3rd party force at G.L. caused any effect. No blame to the workers please (strings of construction pro letters after me name).

Fall arrest is a last resort safety system that comes with its own set of hazards and is way down the hierarchy of risk control when working at height.

You would not fix your lanyard system to the ship when working from a fixed platform, if the vessel moved for any reason, the workers would be plucked from the scaffold. If the vessel is in dry dock, it is supported immobile and scaffold ties might be secured to the ship. The only time outside of putting it up a worker may be attached to a working platform is if that platform were mobile like a cherry picker, cradle or similar. On a fixed and stable platform a fall arrest is unnecessary.

Hardhats are for protection from falling objects and eyewear from flying objects. Irrelevant to this accident.

The scaffold came down with those men on it, this is certain, and someone is responsible. The relevant accident investigation questions are: Was the scaffold put up safely? Was it inspected, signed off and handed over properly? Were any adjustments made, and was it inspected and signed off again afterward? Was it inspected before use on the day? Were the workers using it safely? Was there any interference with the scaffold while in use by the workers overhead?

CigarLUV88Today  06:07 pm JST

I’ve worked in Japanese construction and it’s definitely not a safe workplace. There was hardly ever a quality assurance individual checking on us.

That’s because construction in Japan is managed by technically good written processes but with parlous oversight.