Multiple-storey building construction sites are mushrooming in various cities in Cameroon. Their workers are often seen hopping from one storey to another, accomplishing tasks. Of recent, the security of builders working in high-rise construction sites has attracted much public attention. This followed two recent deadly accidents in Douala.
On Friday May 17, 2013, a worker in a building in the Douche Akwa neighbourhood of Douala was transporting debris from the tenth to the ground floor when the makeshift elevator's chains snapped and fell with him to the ground. He died on his way to the hospital. Earlier on January 21, 2013, 40 year-old Blaise Alain Ngassa was working on a window pane on the seventh floor of the same building when he slid off, fell and shattered his skull. Eyewitnesses and press reports said he was neither wearing any security gadget nor using any platform or elevator.
According to a labour inspector in the Centre Regional Delegation for Labour and Social Security in Yaounde, while some safety cover is guaranteed for workers in construction sites executing State contracts, the respect of safety measures in private construction sites leaves much to be desired. "Most of the workers are not registered with the National Social Insurance Fund and so it is difficult to monitor their work," he explained.
In a private high-rise construction site in the Mvog-Mbi neighbourhood of Yaounde, like in many around town, several workers seen on Saturday, May 25, 2013, were perched on different storeys not putting on safety belts, though working on makeshift fixed or mobile platforms. According to the works supervisor, Jacob F, the temporary platforms were being used for placing wall tiles. "The workers are experienced and we have not recorded any accident so far," he assured.
Meanwhile, at the new Yaounde City Hall construction site, the works supervisor, Kenfack L.P., said the four-storey building was in its finishing stage with the first coat of painting being put. "We ensure the safety of workers by using mobile platforms attached to a crane that enables them to work at various levels. They also have belts tied around waists to ensure that nobody falls to the ground in event of an accident," he explained.
This seems to be the case at the construction site of a new printing press in the premises of the Cameroon News and Publishing Corporation, SOPECAM, situated on Airport Road in the Mvan neighbourhood of Yaounde. Indeed, workers going up and down the huge metallic structure have safety belts tied around their waists with rope links to ensure safety. Firm platforms have also been attached to the walls to ease work and guarantee safety.
