Workplace accidents in Singapore in February 2021

A short list of 11 fatalities from workplace accidents in Singapore for the month of February 2021:

1. Feb 1 - Indian worker, at Jurong West construction site

Found unconscious and slouched against the control panel of a boomlift. Died in hospital from injuries

2. Feb 2 - Prime mover driver, at Jurong Port Road

Fell 2m to the ground from trailer bed when he tried to adjust a steel bundle to help the forklift driver

3. Feb 8 - Delivery rider, Ayer Rajah expressway

Collided with the rear of a truck and was pronounced dead at the scene

4. Feb 10 - Director of JMS Construction, at University Walk

Fell through opening on the floor while overseeing work at the semi-detached house

5. Feb 16 - Self-employed Singaporean, at East Special Purposes anchorage

Fell into the sea while climbing down a pilot ladder of a vessel

6. Feb 20 - Bangladeshi Forklift operator, at Havelock Square 

Crushed by forklift after it reversed and fell into  a pit and toppled

7. Feb 21 - Indian worker, along Penjuru Road

Walking a long a path between 2 shipping containers. He was trapped between the 2 containers when one of them shifted.

8-10: Feb 25 - Tuas

3 workers died, and 5 critically injured in an explosion at a building in Tuas. The explosion was likely  caused by starch dust.

11. Feb 27 - Lift technician, at building in North Bridge Road

Trapped in lift shaft, between lift carriage and metal support structure of the lift

Source: most of the information was extracted from various news media including The Straits Times and CNA.

Foreign worker fell 4.7m through board to his death

The deceased worker had been clearing dismantled electrical fixtures in the building on Nov 14, 2019 as part of his work with several other workers when he stepped through a gypsum board covering the sides of an escalator pit.

Before this, workers had been throwing debris and dismantled electrical wiring from the second floor of the building into the pit on the first floor.

The gypsum board, or drywall, was not meant to hold a person's weight. It was also covered with concrete dust from other works and could not be distinguished from the concrete beams or other fixtures.

The deceased fell 4.7m and landed on the floor of the basement. He was later taken to hospital but resuscitation efforts failed, after he suffered cardiac arrests, and he was pronounced dead that morning.

An autopsy found that he had died from multiple injuries including fractures of the skull, ribs and sternum, or chest bone.

A safety briefing had been held that morning by the safety supervisor, which included a reminder not to go to unsafe areas and to wear equipment such as helmets at all times. 

The deceased worker was assigned along with two other men to do housekeeping works, clearing and cutting electrical wire and removing electrical trunking. They tossed the debris from the second floor into the escalator pit at the first floor, and later went into the pit to clear the items. While work was ongoing, one of the workers who was in the pit clearing the debris heard a loud noise. He looked up and saw a hole in the pit and alerted the rest that a worker had fallen down.

He was later taken to hospital unresponsive and without a pulse, and was pronounced dead later that morning.

(This article was adapted from the news article from CNA

Some learning points (my views):

1. Floor opening was not properly barricade, and the opening on the floor was not properly covered up. Generally, a one-inch thick plywood should be used to board up any opening on the floor.

2. Safety briefing was conducted, but sometimes it may not be relevant to the job on hand. Also, to use generic term like watch out for unsafe conditions may not be meaningful. Better to go into specifics. 

3. For control measures, should put more emphasis on engineering control,  e.g. a strong barricade, rather than administrative controls, such as briefings. 

For more reported accident cases, visit CNA page here

Worker electrocuted during dismantling works

On 15 October 2020, a worker was dismantling an electrical distribution board within a vacated building when he was electrocuted. He was sent to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. 

Employers and contractors performing similar work activities are advised to implement suitable risk controls to protect their workers. Deploy only authorised, trained and competent personnel such as licensed electrical worker to perform or supervise all electrical work including dismantling works. Risk assessment must be carried out and Safe Work Procedures established prior to starting work. For electrical equipment, it is important to isolate and lock out the electrical power source and de-energise the equipment before carrying out dismantling work. Tools used should come with non-conductive handles. As an additional precaution, such workers should also be equipped with the necessary Personal Protective Equipment such as electrical work gloves and rubber-soled footwear.

Source: WSHC

Worker fell from ladder

On 30 October 2020, a worker was at a private dwelling working under a roofing structure when he fell from an A-frame ladder. He was found lying on the floor in a semi-conscious state next to the ladder. The worker was conveyed to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on 4 November 2020.   The Ministry of Manpower has commenced investigations into the accident.   Employers and principals are reminded to conduct a comprehensive Risk Assessment (RA) for all work activities requiring the use of ladders. Only use ladders that are of good construction, sound material, adequate strength and free from defect. Select the most suitable ladder for the work activity by making sure that the ladder is of sufficient height for the worker to access the designated work area without having to stand on its top rung. Workers must be trained on the safe use of ladders such as maintaining three points of contact at all times and the importance of setting up ladders on firm, level and stable ground.     Information on the accident is based on preliminary investigations by the Ministry of Manpower as at 10 Nov 2020. This may be subject to change as investigations are still on-going. Please note that the recommendations provided here are not exhaustive and they are meant to enhance workplace safety and health so that a recurrence may be prevented. The information and recommendations provided are not to be construed as implying any liability on any party nor should it be taken to encapsulate all the responsibilities and obligations under the law.

Source: WSHC