- Oloruntoba, an engineer at Julius Berger Nigeria, died on September 23, 2024, after a loaded crane reportedly collapsed
The Lagos State government has imposed sanctions on construction firm Julius Berger following the death of Oloruntoba Olalekan, a worker who died while operating a crane at the company’s Ijora Yard facility.
Details of the sanctions were not fully disclosed, but the Lagos State Safety Commission’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Lanre Mojola, through the Director of Public Affairs, Mrs. Adewunmi Okoh, confirmed that the company had been directed to meet certain regulatory requirements in the wake of Oloruntoba’s death.
Oloruntoba, an engineer at Julius Berger Nigeria, died on September 23, 2024, after a loaded crane reportedly collapsed. However, an investigation by the Lagos State Safety Commission revealed that the incident was caused by the impact of the contents of a container being offloaded at the site.
Eyewitnesses initially reported that Oloruntoba died after the crane collapsed, but official findings indicate that he was struck by the shifting contents of a 40-foot freight container as they were being offloaded by a forklift.
The commission’s report stated, “The contents of the container toppled from the forklift and struck the engineer, causing fatal injuries from which he did not recover.”
Photographs of the tragic scene circulated in late September, showing Oloruntoba lying lifeless, with his face and head covered in blood.
Following the incident, local authorities were notified, and a formal report was made to the police and the National Social Insurance Trust Fund.
Julius Berger has since been ordered to conduct a comprehensive review of their risk assessments, particularly regarding job hazard analyses and procedures for loading and offloading activities. The company is also required to implement a safety training programme for its staff to prevent future accidents.
The Lagos State Safety Commission continues to monitor compliance with these directives.
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