Migrant Worker Died After Steel Bars Fell on Him at Bedok Worksite

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.

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.

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:

Featured Image: Google Maps