Worker Killed in Tanjong Pagar Building Collapse Was Walking on Path Outside Worksite

Last Updated on 2023-06-27 , 9:43 am

Last Thursday (15 June), a building structure in Tanjong Pagar collapsed and took the life of a 20-year-old worker on the site.

Authorities have since responded, including the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), which will be contacting the chief executives of the companies responsible for the tragic incident.

As investigations continue, more light has been shed on the incident. Here’s the latest update on the Tanjong Pagar Building Collapse.

20-Year-Old Worker Killed in Tanjong Pagar Building Collapse Was Walking Outside Worksite 

Here’s a summary for those unfamiliar with the details of the Tanjong Pagar Building Collapse.

Last week, part of the Fuji Xerox Towers at Tanjong Pagar collapsed during demolition works. A concrete wall from the second storey of the building fell, taking the life of the 20-year-old Indian national Mr Vinoth Kumar.

You can find out more about the Tanjong Pagar Building Collapse here.

On Friday (23 June), the Workplace Safety and Health Council (WSHC) disclosed that the 20-year-old worker was walking along the path outside the demolition site when the concrete wall fell.

Unfortunately, the worker was pinned under the collapsed wall—authorities did not find him until a few hours later.

Wrong place, wrong time.

Only four hours after authorities found the 20-year-old worker under the collapsed wall were they finally able to extract his body from the rubble.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

MOM, the workers’ employer Aik Sun Demolition and Engineering, and the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) have contacted the deceased’s family to provide support.

Demolition works at the site are currently put on hold as investigations are being carried out.

WSHC Urges Companies Engaging in Demolition Works to Take Precautions

In response to the Tanjong Pagar Building Collapse, the WSHC has since urged companies engaging in demolition workers to take several precautions, one of which is the preparation of a demolition method statement by a professional engineer.

Yes, you can’t ask ChatGPT to do the demolition method statement for you.

The demolition method statement is literally what it sounds like—a method statement explaining how demolition works will be undertaken safely.

WSHC went one step further to list six precautionary measures companies engaging in demolition works may implement to avoid a tragedy like the Tanjong Pagar Building Collapse.

Aside from recommending demolition contractors to demolish structures starting from the structure’s top, the Council also recommended companies conduct pre-demolition site surveys, draw up detailed demolition plans, implement a permit-to-work system, and ramp up supervision of demolition works.

It’s a lot of precautionary measures, but that’s the price to pay for safety.

The WSHC also encouraged companies to send staff involved in demolition projects “back to school”—attending the Singapore Contractors Association Limited’s demolition safety course.

Last Friday (16 June), the assistant secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), Melvin Yong, suggested several measures companies may adopt to avoid such a tragedy.

These include reviewing safety guidelines and setting up platforms for workers to voice their safety concerns.