Keppel violated safety standards - DOLE

MANILA, Philippines - Singaporean-owned Keppel Subic Shipyard Inc. violated certain safety regulations at the time of the accident that resulted in the death of six workers, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said yesterday.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the DOLE inspection team deployed in the accident site found several “lapses” in the operations of the ship repair facility.

Baldoz said she ordered Labor Undersecretary Lourdes Transmonte to meet with the Keppel management to discuss the corrective measures to be undertaken.

“There are short and long term recommendations like there should be accredited safety officers in the different operations of Keppel and that there must be a safety plan to be approved by DOLE,” she said.

She said DOLE inspectors will also meet with the team of safety experts deployed by Keppel from Singapore.