Co-workers of the Chinese construction worker who fell off a scaffolding say he was not wearing a safety harness

According to reports, A statement from the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago said 38 year old Xia Teck Uon "slipped" while climbing down a two frame height of scaffolding and fell to the ground about 5m below.

The accident took place around 2.45 p.m. on Tuesday at the building site of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, on Richmond Street, Port of Spain.

Uon died at the Port of Spain General Hospital around 10.20 p.m.

But the statement does not mention whether Uon, who has 20 years construction experience, was actually wearing a safety harness.

Site workers who witnessed the accident and recorded it on their mobile phones said Uon was not.

By law, under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the safety harness must be worn and you should be put out of the job site if you fail to do so.

Workers said that Chinese labourers at that particular job site very rarely wear their harness, and the contractor is lax with enforcing the rule.

Yesterday there were no senior officials at Sunway Construction Caribbean Limited, Port of Spain offices, to respond to the allegations.

Uon is employed with Sunway which is the lead contractor on the project.

Udecott said Uon was "preparing the necessary pre-concrete work arrangements for a cement pour on buildings stairway."

He was on the mezzanine floor.

A detailed report has been requested by Udecott from the project manager Turner Alpha and Sunway.

Uon's family is being flown to Trinidad by Sunway.

Meanwhile work continued on the building yesterday.