Empresas ICA: Workers killed while removing scaffolding from Ayatsil-C platform

Empresas ICA, S.A.B. de C.V , the largest infrastructure and construction company in Mexico, announced today that on June 11, 2014 an accident occurred at the construction site of its affiliate Industria del Hierro, for the Ayatsil – C Platform in the facilities located in Matarredonda, Veracruz.

Seven workers are confirmed dead and one is injured.

“We share in the grief of and express our deepest condolences to the victims’ families and loved ones,” Empresas ICA said in a statement.

The accident occurred when a group of workers was dismantling scaffolding from the offshore platform at a height of approximately 40 meters. The workers were in a man basket held by a Manitowoc 600 Ton Crane, which fell with the workers in it. The cause of the accident is unknown. Industria del Hierro is conducting the site investigations in coordination with the government authorities.

Related: Seven workers die in rig construction yard in Mexico

“The safety and security of our colleagues is of utmost importance for our company. We are currently reaching out to assist the injured and the families of those who lost their lives. We will allocate the necessary resources to determine as soon as possible the cause of the accident and implement any necessary preventive measures in the future,” ICA said in a press release.

The Ayatsil – C platform is being constructed for the Mexico’s state-controlled oil company Pemex. It is an offshore production platform scheduled for deployment at the Ku-Maloob-Zaap field in the Gulf of Mexico. The contract for the construction of the platform was awarded to ICA Fluor, the industrial construction joint venture of Empresas ICA, S.A. B de C.V.  and Fluor Corporation in 2012. The total contract value is $95 million.

Weighing 11,832 tons and reaching 132 meters deep, Ayatsil-C the first structure of this size to be installed by Pemex. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2013.