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Better crane safety a matter of urgency, says taskforce

SINGAPORE — Slightly more than a week after the authorities called for a time-out to allow the construction and marine industries to review workplace safety practices due to the surge in deaths and injuries so far this year, the National Crane Safety Taskforce followed up with a call to improve safety measures during crane operations, noting that there have been nine crane-related “dangerous occurrences”, leaving one worker dead and four injured.

The Singapore Cranes Association will help to review and strengthen training programmes for crane operators, especially lorry crane operators and lifting supervisors. TODAY FILE PHOTO

The Singapore Cranes Association will help to review and strengthen training programmes for crane operators, especially lorry crane operators and lifting supervisors. TODAY FILE PHOTO

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SINGAPORE — Slightly more than a week after the authorities called for a time-out to allow the construction and marine industries to review workplace safety practices due to the surge in deaths and injuries so far this year, the National Crane Safety Taskforce followed up with a call to improve safety measures during crane operations, noting that there have been nine crane-related “dangerous occurrences”, leaving one worker dead and four injured.

These incidents happened in the period between January 1 and April 5, the taskforce said in a press release yesterday, with the latest three cases happening within a span of 10 days, though no one was injured.

The taskforce, under the Workplace Safety and Health Council, added that its members met recently to review procedures to look into preventing similar crane-related accidents from happening again.

It strongly urged industry players to take immediate action and implement proper safeguards, such as ensuring that all cranes are operated according to manufacturers’ specifications and requirements, and that company training courses be conducted regularly for crane operators to refresh their skills and knowledge, and to ensure they are familiar with safe lifting operations.

On top of that, the relevant personnel must ensure that cranes are checked and ascertain that the ground conditions and surrounding environment are safe before starting any lifting operation.

Mr Mohamed Abdul Akbar, chairman of the taskforce, said: “We noted that some of the dangerous occurrences were due to inadequate extension of outriggers, insufficient training of crane operators, and disregard for crane manufacturer’s requirements, and poor maintenance. These (incidents) could have resulted in deaths if we do not adhere to safe work practices. We strongly urge the industry to review all lifting operations to make sure that they are conducted in a safe manner.”

In the nine cases reported by the taskforce, one in February happened in the marine sector, where the boom of a dockside tower crane collapsed during lifting operations, injuring three workers. Other cases saw the hoisting equipment of cranes snapping or toppling, or involved cranes tilting or falling on their side during lifting operations.

To assist the taskforce, the Singapore Cranes Association will look into reviewing and strengthening the training programmes for crane operators, especially lorry crane operators and lifting supervisors.

Mr Kenneth Loo, president of the Singapore Contractors Association Limited, said: “Workplace safety in construction sites has to be taken with utmost importance. Lapses in safety have huge impact on manpower, costs and delays in projects ... (The association) urges all relevant parties to implement the necessary control measures immediately to ensure that all lifting operations are safe.”

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