Construction firm fined $250,000 for inadequate safety measures

SINGAPORE - A construction firm has been slapped with a S$250,000 fine for failing to ensure adequate safety measures at a workplace, which resulted in an accident that killed two workers on Jan 22, 2014.

The sum is the highest fine for a conviction under the Workplace Safety and Health Act so far.

The accident occurred at a worksite at Ayer Rajah Avenue where GS Engineering & Construction Corp had been engaged to construct two buildings.

The two construction workers and three other co-workers were instructed by the company’s foreman to load an air compressor onto a loading platform on level 7, and then use the platform to move it up to level 8 of the 11-storey building. But, the loading platform was not installed on Level 7. Instead, the loading platform - held up by four lifting chain slings – was suspended at the edge of Level 7.

When the air compressor was loaded on to the suspended platform, it rolled away from the edge of the building and caused the loading platform to tilt. The two victims, where in the path of the air compressor were unable to get out of the way in time and fell off the platform along with the compressor.

The air compressor landed onto a loading platform installed at Level 5, while both workers landed on the ground level.

They were pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Investigations by the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) Occupational Safety and Health Division found that the construction company had failed to ensure a safe system of work was implemented and that no loose objects were on the loading platform.

Although the company had developed a Safety Management System at the worksite, it failed to comply by the safety regulations.

The firm had also failed to ensure all its workers were trained to use the loading platform and that fall protection equipment was provided to workers.

GS Engineering & Construction Corp was initially fined S$150,000, in September last year, but MOM appealed on the sentence. On Thursday (Dec 15), the High Court increased the fine to $250,000.

The maximum penalty that the firm could have faced under Section 12(1) of the Workplace Safety and Health Act (Chapter 354A) was a fine of S$500,000.