Construction of 4th bridge over Panama Canal halted after worker falls

Construction of the fourth bridge over the Panama Canal was almost completely halted after a worker fell from a platform in the Figali prefabrication area on Thursday, September 24, said the Minister of Labor and Workforce Development, Jackeline Muñoz.

This is a project that has already seen three fatalities and a series of repeated accidents. We have been in discussions and have requested a review of the safety measures. The ministry doesn’t have just one safety officer on this site; it has several, precisely to prevent these kinds of situations. Over the past few months, we have halted work on various fronts. This time, we are doing so almost entirely,” the minister said.

The Minister said the accident was not fatal, but placed within a history of incidents that is concerning to her office. “This is a project that already has three fatalities and a series of repeated accidents,” she stated. She added that work has been suspended on various fronts in recent months and that, on this occasion, the measure encompasses almost the entire project. 

Muñoz said that inspectors from the Ministry of Labor are currently in different areas of the project and that she will request a meeting with those in charge of construction to learn about the safety measures they will implement.