Cleaning Team Failed to Set Up Guardrail, Woman Fell; Kaohsiung Environmental Protection Bureau Apologizes
A woman fell into a ditch and broke her arm because the Kaohsiung Environmental Protection Bureau's cleaning team failed to set up a guardrail during ditch cleaning. Following accusations of shifting blame and improper remarks from the victim's family, the Environmental Protection Bureau admitted fault, promising to revise procedures, strengthen safety, and apologize and compensate the family.
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- 📰 Published: April 13, 2026 at 13:46
- 🔍 Collected: April 13, 2026 at 14:01 (15 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 13, 2026 at 15:24 (1h 22m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Hung Hsueh-kuang, Kaohsiung, 13th) A woman fell into a ditch during cleaning operations by the Kaohsiung Environmental Protection Bureau's cleaning team due to the absence of a guardrail, causing injury. The victim's family questioned the bureau for shifting blame and making inappropriate remarks. The Environmental Protection Bureau responded that a review confirmed shortcomings, and it has revised procedures to strengthen safety, requiring relevant personnel to apologize to the family.
A citizen posted on the social media platform Threads, stating that her mother went to buy food at a bento shop in Siaogang at the end of last December. While washing her hands at the store entrance, she stepped into a ditch because the Environmental Protection Bureau's cleaning team had insufficient fencing and only placed a 'Public Works in Progress' warning sign, causing her to fall and break her right arm.
The citizen questioned that her mother was diagnosed with a broken right arm, and police surveillance footage also confirmed that there was no fence at the scene. Initially, the Environmental Protection Bureau insisted that 'there was a fence,' but only after entering mediation did the squadron leader and the director's secretary call to apologize and admit negligence. Furthermore, during the national compensation meeting, the deputy director of the Environmental Protection Bureau also made inappropriate remarks. They hope the Environmental Protection Bureau can seriously address public safety issues instead of shying away from responsibility.
Responding this morning, the Environmental Protection Bureau stated that the Siaogang cleaning squadron of the Environmental Management Office carried out ditch dredging operations at the end of last year. According to operating procedures, triangular cones, connecting rods, and warning signs were placed to remind road users of safety. However, the operating personnel were unable to prevent the public from getting injured. After the incident, a review confirmed shortcomings, and operating procedures have been revised to strengthen operational safety and employee training, ensuring strict control over personnel access to work areas. The national compensation process has now begun, and the bureau will bear relevant compensation responsibilities.
Regarding the inappropriate remarks made during the national compensation meeting, relevant personnel from the Environmental Protection Bureau will once again apologize to the family and have been warned to speak cautiously in the future to avoid misunderstandings. In addition, standard operating procedures have been revised to clearly require dense fencing along ditch cleaning routes, placing triangular cones next to open manholes, and strengthening warning and personnel control measures to prevent hazards. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150413
(Central News Agency reporter Hung Hsueh-kuang, Kaohsiung, 13th) A woman fell into a ditch during cleaning operations by the Kaohsiung Environmental Protection Bureau's cleaning team due to the absence of a guardrail, causing injury. The victim's family questioned the bureau for shifting blame and making inappropriate remarks. The Environmental Protection Bureau responded that a review confirmed shortcomings, and it has revised procedures to strengthen safety, requiring relevant personnel to apologize to the family.
A citizen posted on the social media platform Threads, stating that her mother went to buy food at a bento shop in Siaogang at the end of last December. While washing her hands at the store entrance, she stepped into a ditch because the Environmental Protection Bureau's cleaning team had insufficient fencing and only placed a 'Public Works in Progress' warning sign, causing her to fall and break her right arm.
The citizen questioned that her mother was diagnosed with a broken right arm, and police surveillance footage also confirmed that there was no fence at the scene. Initially, the Environmental Protection Bureau insisted that 'there was a fence,' but only after entering mediation did the squadron leader and the director's secretary call to apologize and admit negligence. Furthermore, during the national compensation meeting, the deputy director of the Environmental Protection Bureau also made inappropriate remarks. They hope the Environmental Protection Bureau can seriously address public safety issues instead of shying away from responsibility.
Responding this morning, the Environmental Protection Bureau stated that the Siaogang cleaning squadron of the Environmental Management Office carried out ditch dredging operations at the end of last year. According to operating procedures, triangular cones, connecting rods, and warning signs were placed to remind road users of safety. However, the operating personnel were unable to prevent the public from getting injured. After the incident, a review confirmed shortcomings, and operating procedures have been revised to strengthen operational safety and employee training, ensuring strict control over personnel access to work areas. The national compensation process has now begun, and the bureau will bear relevant compensation responsibilities.
Regarding the inappropriate remarks made during the national compensation meeting, relevant personnel from the Environmental Protection Bureau will once again apologize to the family and have been warned to speak cautiously in the future to avoid misunderstandings. In addition, standard operating procedures have been revised to clearly require dense fencing along ditch cleaning routes, placing triangular cones next to open manholes, and strengthening warning and personnel control measures to prevent hazards. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150413