For those who have served in the army before, you should be familiar with the phrase “Mission First, Safety Always”. In fact, it is so paramount that in 2013, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) added “safety|” to its list of core values they swear by to uphold.
Similarly, in any construction site, it involves high-risk activities. For workers, they have to adhere to workplace safety and health regulations. However, accidents do tend to occur.
Bangladeshi Worker Crushed by Steel Bars
Last Saturday morning (11 Dec), a Bangladeshi worker was crushed by a pile of steel bars that fell on him. It happened at the site where a clubhouse for HomeTeam national servicemen (NSMen) is being built.
Advertisements
Yes, while some of us are enjoying our deep sleep on a weekend morning, others are busy building buildings for us.
The police were notified of the incident at 900 Bedok North Road, the worksite in Bedok Reservoir Park, at about 9:30am.
How Did the Steel Bars Fall?
According to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the steel bars were being lifted by a tower crane.
Just so you know, the average maximum jib reach for a tower crane is roughly around 230 feet. That is about 70 metres high. Imagine the impact it can cause.
After the steel bars fell on the migrant worker, the Chin Lee Construction employee was rushed to Changi General Hospital. Unfortunately, he thereafter succumbed to his injuries and died.
The police and MOM are currently investigating the incident. While that is taking place, all lifting operations were ordered to be on hold.
Construction Site Deaths in Singapore
Unfortunately, such a case hasn’t been a first occurence. Just February this year, one of JMS Construction’s Directors died in a semi-detached house at Dunearn Road. He had fallen 4.7m through a floor opening in the attic.
While JMS Construction had identified that as a potential hazard, workers failed to take safety precautions and did not wear any harnesses.
Advertisements
Furthermore, the construction firm also did not have a permit to operate on the day of the fatal incident.
Alarmingly, statistics show that workplace deaths have been on the rise. In 2021, there have been at least 35 reported cases of workplace deaths. This is an increase from 20 cases in 2020.
Read Also:
- 9 Must-Know Updates from 14 Dec’s COVID-19 Press Conference
- Najib Responded to Netizens Who Complained That He Met Up With S’porean Billionaire in S’pore
Featured Image: Google Maps
These five GRCs could see the tightest battle in GE2025; here’s why:
Read Also:
- Trump Exempts Electronics from 125% China Tariffs, Sparing Smartphones and Computers
- Elderly Charity Shop Owner Baffled by Over 50 Boxes of Mystery Donation Blocking Store Entrance
- DNA from Two Men Discovered on Murdered Singaporean Woman’s Clothing as Court Orders Comparison with Main Suspect
- Former Police Officer Convicted in Fatal Maid Abuse Case That Left Victim Weighing Just 24kg
- Teen Arrested in Johor for Selling AI-Generated Fake Nudes of School Peers for RM2 Each
