3 Workers Die after Scaffolding Collapse in Kanagawa

Kawasaki, Kanagawa Pref., April 8 (Jiji Press)–Three workers died after scaffolding at the Keihin District of JFE Steel Corp.’s East Japan Works in Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo, collapsed Tuesday, local authorities have said. A total of five workers, all men, were involved in the accident after they lost their footing. Four of them were found and sent to a medical facility, but three were confirmed dead. The remaining worker is still unaccounted for. The accident occurred around 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, during work to dismantle a large crane used to move iron ore and coal from ships at the East Japan Works’ Keihin District, located on the artificial island of Ogishima in the city of Kawasaki. The crane’s cylindrical counterweight fell for an unknown reason, causing the scaffolding to collapse. The five workers who were on top of the counterweight and a demolition machine fell from a height of about 35 meters, according to the major Japanese steelmaker. The roughly 400-ton counterweight punched through flooring as it dropped, and the missing worker may have fallen into the sea through the hole created by the impact. Police officers and others will continue to search for the man Thursday. The three dead victims were identified as Katsuki Ueyama, 43, from the city of Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, Kenshiro Chiba, 19, from the city of Chiba, and Yu Koike, 29, also from the Chiba prefectural capital, according to the Kanagawa prefectural police department. The crane dismantling work had been undertaken by general contractor Toa Corp. The company said the victims are believed to be employees of second- and third-tier subcontractors. “We take very seriously that we have caused great concern and inconvenience to many people, including the families of those who lost their lives and others concerned, and we offer our deepest apologies,” JFE Steel said in a statement Wednesday. “We are continuing to check the safety of (the missing worker), and we will fully cooperate with the relevant authorities’ search efforts so that (the worker) can be rescued as soon as possible” the company also said. JFE Steel and Toa said they will work to determine the cause of the accident. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]