In Semey, a 14-year-old teenager fell into a trench at the site of the heating network reconstruction on Auezov Square and broke his hip.
According to the Telegram channel «HALYQSTAN», the incident occurred when the teenager tried to give way to a manoeuvring car. Stepping up onto the kerb, the boy lost his balance and fell into a poorly fenced trench. The child is currently in hospital and has undergone surgery. According to doctors, rehabilitation could take from one to three years.
It has become known that the client for the work is the Department of Energy and Housing and Communal Services of the Abay Region. The contractor is LLP «SRB – L».
The department reported that it had sent the contractor organisation instructions to bring all fencing at the heating network reconstruction site on Auezov Square into compliance with requirements.
«Control by technical supervision has also been strengthened, including mandatory daily recording of the condition of the fencing. The contractor organisation has already purchased additional warning signs about excavation work, and work is underway to strengthen the supports for the fencing,» the statement said.
The department also noted that, according to building regulations, temporary fences must be stable, have warning markings and, if necessary, be equipped with lighting. Using only netting without other safety measures is insufficient.
«Contractor organisations have now been further instructed on the inadmissibility of such situations and the need for strict compliance with regulations. Artificial lighting for the specified section is not required, as the nearby M. Auezov Park and the 'G – cinema park' have stationary lamps that provide sufficient visibility in the dark,» the department added.
At the same time, it is reported that the contractor — LLP «SRB–L» — provided assistance to the injured teenager: it purchased orthopaedic aids necessary for recovery and provided financial support.
This case illustrates a typical problem: building regulations and safety requirements only begin to be strictly observed after someone is injured.
This raises obvious questions — why were the fences not properly installed from the start? Where was the technical supervision before the incident? Such situations can be prevented if we do not wait for tragedies, but monitor compliance with safety standards from the very beginning of the work.