The Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) has been accused of negligence in the tragic incident involving a landing craft on November 2.
Two people died when the landing craft capsized while trying to unload an excavator from a cargo ship. The excavator was on the landing craft when it capsized.
There were 14 people on the landing craft at the time of the incident. The deceased were identified as Aflah Abdulla, 25, and Masood Hossain, 32, of Bangladesh. At least eight MPL employees were there at the time of the incident.
They tried to unload the excavator by lowering it onto the landing craft from a cargo ship near the port. Adhadhu understands that the main reason for the vessel to capsize was that the excavator operated on it.
Two excavators were loaded onto the landing craft. This meant the vessel was very cramped. The landing craft capsized when one excavator was operated on the orders of MPL.
Those types of operations are commonly referred to as "lifting operations." If you do work, a safety check is required. But Adhadhu can confirm that no such check was made during the operation. Most of the people involved in the operation had no safety training.
"This is a very serious negligence. There is no safety check in MPL. This issue should be investigated very thoroughly. Every time the same thing is done wrong, many people are dying," occupational health and safety expert Ibrahim Zahir told Adhadhu.
Adhadhu also understands that the current senior person in charge of MPL's safety is a junior employee who previously worked in the Human Resources Department and who does not have the relevant experience or knowledge.
According to the Workplace Safety Act, it is the responsibility of the employer to ensure the safety of its employees in the workplace.
It is also the employer’s responsibility to ensure that adequate guidance, information, training and supervision are regularly provided to ensure the safety of the workplace.
MPL CEO Mohamed Rishwan said the incident is under investigation. Police have not yet said whether the case is being investigated.
