Chennai: Four people, including safety engineer and site supervisor, were arrested a day after a worker fell to death at a metro rail work site near Alandur on Saturday. The worker was involved in installing signalling panels and electrification at the Little Mount-Airport elevated line when he slipped and fell into a well where reinforcements for concrete were kept.
A police official said, the staff were arrested because they were responsible for safety lapses at the worksite. Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) has ordered an enquiry.
The accident shows that neither CMRL nor its contractors have learnt their lessons from past experiences. The project has seen more than four fatal accidents since the construction began in 2009.
A senior official of metro rail said it was challenging to ensure safety at worksite where labourers from a variety of background work.
“The periodic audits done by safety wing suggests ways to improve protection and avoid accidents. Workers are counselled while supervisors are advised to be stern. This has helped in cutting down on accidents. Our track record is good when compared to other metro rail projects,” he added.