Readers of ConstructionWeekOnline.com have reacted angrily to a story involving a fight on a tower crane in Abu Dhabi.
The original incident happened when the operator told an engineer on the ground that a request to lift an object deemed unsuitable was “crazy.”
This reportedly enraged the 39-year-old engineer enough to send him climbing up the device in order to discipline the driver for his insolence.
According to a police report, the operator struck the engineer on the head, causing the latter to plunge to his death.
Posters to the website, of which PMV Middle East is a part, for the most part believed that the incident highlighted the need for greater safety legislation, such as the US OSHA code. M. Hussain from Jeddah wrote: “I was once almost assaulted myself by a project manager for highlighting a major scaffolding violation. If only we had OSHA.” The same poster suggested that he might try to set up a chapter in Western Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, MH from Dubai wrote: “Let us assume that the lift was dangerous and so he refused to do it; standing-up to an “engineer” shows that he is responsible and qualified.” He added that he believed that the operator was 100% right, until the moment that he hit the engineer on the head.
Most other comments concurred. One poster said: “The operator has final decision in all lifts. Foremen who “push” operators to make a lift should be fired on the spot.” However, one comment sided with the engineer.
Bashir said: “The UAE Engineers association should support the engineer.” He added that “Actions like this should be stopped, or others may do the same.”
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