‘Platform that collapsed manmade, belonged to IPI’

The platform that collapsed at the construction site of Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC’s casino-resort project in Garapan that left three workers injured last Jan. 10 was manmade and belonged to IPI, the Commonwealth Casino Commission learned.

According to the latest minutes of the CCC meeting, IPI assistant vice president of construction Eric Poon has assured that, since the incident, weekly scheduled walkthroughs on the site were implemented with the participation of management staff and DR Safety Consultants.

In response to CCC chair Juan M. Sablan’s inquiry, Poon said the platform was manmade, but he declined to answer whether it met federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s requirements due to ongoing investigations.

In response to CCC executive director Edward Deleon Guerrero’s question, Poon divulged that the platform was IPI’s property and not the subcontractor. Poon said that IPI has since taken the platform down.

Stressing that CCC’s major concern is the safety of the workers at the site, Sablan urged IPI to focus on safety to avoid future accidents.

Then-CCC acting executive director Charlie Atalig reported to the board that, shortly after the incident, personnel from the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services and Department of Public Safety dealt with the situation onsite. Atalig said CCC agents were also deployed to monitor.

Atalig stated that the three injured individuals were brought to the Commonwealth Health Center and released later the same day.

He said the incident did not affect IPI’s gaming operations.

Poon explained that the workers weren’t seriously hurt.

Since the incident is still under investigation, he said he has no information to update the commission, but assured that once the report is available, a copy will be provided.

He further stated that IPI is cooperating with the local government in its investigation, which includes DPS and the CNMI Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Poon said DPW issued a stop-order to IPI that lasted a couple of days and, during that time, intensive safety improvements were made on the site with the coordination of DR Safety Consultants.

Deleon Guerrero requested that IPI submit a copy of the investigation report and findings to the commission.