Two people were killed and five injured yesterday afternoon as scaffolding collapsed at the Dalin Power Plant in Kaohsiung’s Siaogang District (小港).
A male worker surnamed Huang (黃) died instantly as the scaffolding struck him, while a female worker, also surnamed Huang, died after efforts to resuscitate her failed.
Five other workers were hospitalized, but were not in critical condition, although they had severe injuries.
Photo: CNA, courtesy of Kaohsiung City Government Fire Bureau
A contractor is building coal storage silos at the plant and the seven workers were reportedly assembling the 50m-high scaffolding when it collapsed, according to the Kaohsiung Labor Standards Inspection Office.
The collapse was potentially caused by an unstable structure at the bottom of the scaffolding, the office said.
The office ordered the contractor to suspend all operations until the cause of the accident is determined.
Taiwan Power Co (Taipower, 台電), the plant’s operator, said it cordoned off the scene after the incident, but it was yet to determine what caused the collapse.
Company officials went to hospitals to visit those injured.
They said the company would conduct a comprehensive safety examination and instruct contractors to improve safety procedures to prevent such an incident from happening again.
Premier Lin Chuan (林全) asked Taipower president Chu Wen-chen (朱文成) to deal with the aftermath of the incident and offer condolences to the family of the deceased, according to the Executive Yuan.
The incident constituted a major work accident, and the Executive Yuan ordered the plant to cease construction and ascertain responsibility, while the Ministry of Labor dispatched counselors to visit the injured people and offer assistance, including to seek compensation and medical treatment.
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