Last night we told you about the freak accident that killed construction worker Wilmer Coyi. He was in the basket of a crane suspended 35 feet in the air - when the rope wire snapped and the movable pulley bashed him in the head.

It's another fatal accident on a construction site - another happened two months ago on august 24th.

That prompted the temporary Senator for Labour, Luke Martinez - who is also the president of the NUTCB - to speak up loudly at today's senate meeting.

He called on the government to pass the Occupational Safety and Health bill which has been languishing in the legislature and the cabinet for almost a decade. He said the case is dire and the need is urgent:

Luke Martinez, Labour Senator
"For every day that we continue to ignore the fact that health and safety is not important. We have workers in this country who continue to fall to their deaths and to serious injuries. Madam President, we met with the Prime Minister a few months ago and he has given us his commitment that in September this government would have tabled the OSH."

"Madam President, we are in October. A life was lost a day ago. Someone is in hospital right now. Madam President, because of negligence at the work place. Sorry. Cannot bring back a life. Meaningless compensation cannot bring back a life, Madame President. But if we ensure that there is safety in the workplace, we will save lives."

Martinez also gave a brief recap of the tedious "back and forthing" with government - dating back to December of last year when the NUTCB and the Chamber of Commerce went to the Minister to push for the passage of the OSH bill - as it is called: "It took the minister six months to respond to us, to tell us that they've have sought legal advice and they will have to go through a whole new process. While it took him six months. Madam President, we have workers who died."

"After that six months, it took him another three months to say, okay, let's sit down and let's discuss how we could advance this legislation. The minister has given us now a two months commitment that will see the bill advance from his ministry to Cabinet and then to the National Assembly. But I reminded the Minister responsible for Labour. I am reminding the Prime Minister and his Cabinet and this Senate that for every day we ignore that fact. For every day we ignore the fact that workers need to be protected, that employers are protected, and that customers are protected."

"Madam President, for every day we ignore that fact. We will continue to bury workers. We will continue to have workers hospitalized. So, for God's sake, let's rush the OSH."