A worker plunged to his death from the 12th floor of the construction site of Phnom Penh’s Naga resort Saturday afternoon, in the third work-related death at the site this year, officials said Sunday.
Nheim Leap, 24, from Kompong Cham province, was installing glass on the 12th floor when he fell at around 2 pm, said Tonle Bassac police chief Ouch Sokhon. Eyewitnesses said he split his head open on a second story ledge and then landed in front of the entrance to the building site and the casino.
“The victim had a harness but he forgot to attach it,” said carpenter Touch Ro, who works for CCAG, the construction company contracted for the building.
CCAG manager Chhong Cheu said he was not clear on the details of the death. He referred questions to Sokun Thy, the owner of a small workshop hired by CCAG to install window and door frames.
“I am very angry because Nheim Leap was careless,” Sokun Thy said. He paid compensation to the victim’s family and paid Nheim Leap’s cremation and funeral services, he said. He would not say how much was paid and did not disclose Nheim Leap’s salary.
Naga press representative Michael Nen did not answer repeated calls Sunday.
One worker died after falling from the same floor in March, while another worker was electrocuted to death in May.
Chhong Cheu declined to say whether CCAG would improve safety measures after the incident.
The director of the Department of Occupational Health, Huy Han Song, said an investigative team would inspect the site today. He did not issue further comment.
