Crane Accident At Japan’s Imabari Shipbuilding Injures 7 Workers

Seven workers were injured on Saturday, July 12, when a heavy object fell during ship assembly work at Imabari Shipbuilding’s Marugame factory in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan.

The incident happened just before 12 noon. At 11:56 a.m., local police and the fire department received an emergency call reporting that a heavy object had fallen from a crane and caused multiple injuries at the shipyard.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene and confirmed that seven male workers were injured. All of them were conscious and able to speak when they were transported to a nearby hospital.

Authorities later said that three of the workers suffered serious fractures in their arms and hips, while the remaining four had less severe injuries. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

According to the police and fire department, the accident occurred while the workers were assembling a ship block. The part fell during the operation, injuring workers who were either inside or around the area at the time. The workers are believed to be in their teens to thirties.

The police are currently investigating the exact cause of the accident.

Earlier this year, Japan’s Immigration Services Agency found that the company had violated industrial safety and health laws at its Imabari City facilities. The agency revoked Imabari’s license to recruit and train foreign workers for five years.

Due to this ban, more than 2,000 foreign trainees working at the company were transferred to other employers.

Imabari Shipbuilding has also been working to strengthen its business amid a long-term decline in shipbuilding orders in Japan. In June, the company announced a plan to absorb Japan Marine United (JMU) as a fully-owned subsidiary.

References: nhk news, ksb news

Source: Maritime Shipping News