On October 28, 2024, the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, spoke about the case of an employee in Samut Prakan Province who was hit by a crane and died. Once the Ministry of Labour learned of the news, the Labour Minister, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, immediately instructed the Permanent Secretary of Labour to assign agencies under the Ministry of Labour to go to the area to aid and ensure that the people receive the benefits they are entitled to under the law as soon as possible.
Mr. Boonsong continued that he received a report from the Ministry of Labour’s provincial agencies in Samut Prakan that they had been notified by the occupational safety network of the case of an employee of State Service Co., Ltd. who was hit and killed by a crane. The investigation found that the incident occurred at 15.16 hours on October 26. The incident occurred at a Thai Airways cargo warehouse at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Ms. Mani Tumsut, a cleaning lady who was an employee of State Service Co., Ltd., was cleaning the area inside the warehouse when a crane that was storing goods hit and hooked the employee, causing her to fall and sustain serious injuries. The officers provided first aid and notified the Samitivej Hospital vehicle stationed at the airport to provide first aid and take the employee to Sirindhorn Hospital, where she later died.
The report of the Samut Prakan Provincial Labour Protection and Welfare Office also found that relevant laws and penalties include the Occupational Health, Safety, and Working Environment Act B.E. 2554 and the Ministerial Regulations on Standards for Administration, Management, and Operation of Occupational Health, Safety, and Working Environment Regarding Machinery, Cranes and Boilers B.E. 2564. Penalties of the Safety Act, Sections 4 and 8, include imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding 400,000 Baht or both. Mr. Boonsong also mentioned the assistance provided by the Samut Prakan Provincial Social Security Office, saying that the Samut Prakan Provincial Social Security Office has visited the area to explain the various benefits to the relatives of the deceased. Employees are entitled to protection under the Compensation Act B.E. 2537 and the Compensation Act (No. 2) B.E. 2561, including actual medical expenses as necessary, in accordance with the criteria, methods, conditions, and rates specified in the Ministerial Regulations. Compensation in case of death includes 70 percent of wages for 120 months, at 6,606.60 Baht per month, totaling 792,792 Baht. This amount will be paid to entitled heirs under Section 20. Furthermore, they are entitled to funeral expenses, totaling 50,000 Baht, paid to the funeral manager, and retirement benefits, totaling 112,274.41 Baht, with interest, paid to legal heirs. In this regard, the Samut Prakan Provincial Social Security Office, Bang Phli Branch, has coordinated with Area 3, which is the area responsible for the employer, to provide care and assistance in accordance with the benefits.
“The Labour Minister, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, and I would like to express our condolences to the families of the deceased worker. In terms of assistance and compensation, we have instructed agencies under the Ministry of Labour, especially the Social Security Office, to take care of the benefits that insured persons are entitled to according to the law in order to build morale and to ensure the relatives understand the assistance and compensation. Please be assured that the Ministry of Labour will provide protection and care for all workers who have died or been injured while working so that they will receive full benefits according to the law,” Mr. Boonsong concluded.
In this regard, relatives of deceased employees can inquire for more details at the Samut Prakan Provincial Social Security Office or call the Ministry of Labour’s hotline at 1506 and press 1 for the Social Security Office.
