SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — The head of head of Tijuana’s civil protection there has been an escalation in the number of construction-site accidents, including two deaths, since the start of the year.
José Luis Jiménez González says this trend has prompted his department to order more inspections at job sites around the city.
“We’ve shut down four construction projects so far due to the lack of safety equipment that led to workers being injured,” he said.
On Tuesday, a 34-year-old worker fell to his death from the fifth floor of a tower being built in Tijuana.
Jiménez González told the El Sol Newspaper he did not have a specific number of construction-related accidents that have taken place this year, but he said it was “a high figure.”
“The theme of people being injured has increased a lot at construction zones, some have been deadly, there has been a significant increase.”
He also stated several contractors have been cited and warned for not providing proper safety gear such as harness equipment for workers.
“Before most jobs were at ground level, maybe two to three floors high, but now everything is going up and you have to factor in questions about fires, rescues and medical attention.”
Another issue, according to Jiménez González, is the lack of personnel who can provide safety training or guidelines to workers at construction sites.
Currently, there are 56 high-rise housing or office buildings being constructed throughout Tijuana.
“We will be doing unannounced inspections around the city, this is a trend we have to stop, human life is the most important resource and needs to be protected.”
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