A worker from Bangladesh, 41, died when one part of a wall he was working on at Serangoon Gardens collapsed and fell on him. The fatality, which occurred on June 10 at a private home, is the 26th workplace casualty since the year began. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is now investigating the accident.
A spokesman for the ministry told CNA that the worker “was hacking a wall in a landed private dwelling when part of the wall collapsed on him”. MOM received word about the incident at 44 Tai Hwan Heights at around 4:30 pm on June 10. Rescuers from the Singapore Civil Defence Force arrived at the residence shortly afterwards and extricated the worker. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Bangladeshi national had worked for Sam Woo (SEA). Beow Hock Engineering, the occupier of the site, has been told by MOM to halt the works for the time being at the site.
“As a general safety measure, demolition works must be properly planned for structures to be demolished in a systematic manner,” the spokesperson told CNA.
In a Facebook post last month, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted that this year, there have been “far too many” workplace deaths.
“We have been working hard for years to prevent workplace accidents, especially deaths. We have made good progress. But with our economy reopening and activities ramping up, safety standards and practices seem to have slipped. Accident rates have gone up, and we have lost ground.
We must put this right,” he added, announcing a two-week safety timeout.
“Lives are at stake. We have a responsibility to keep all our workers safe, whether they are local or foreign,” wrote PM Lee.
Earlier this month, Workers’ Party Member of Parliament Leon Perera (Aljunied GRC) commented on the recent increase in accidents in workplaces, saying that the injuries and deaths resulting from these incidents could be because of “the rush to complete delayed projects as well as the current labour crunch.”
In a June 2 Facebook post, Mr Perera called the current state of workplace safety “worrying.”
Mr Perera added that he wonders if long overtime hours and high temperatures outdoors have also contributed to the current workplace safety situation, and noted that all sectors — employers, employees, the authorities, and members of the public—must do their part to ensure the safety of workers. /TISG