SDP urges MND to take ‘immediate steps’ to prevent more lift accidents

SINGAPORE – Given the recent spate of accidents involving lift malfunctions at the Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) has called on the Ministry of National Development to take immediate steps to prevent further accidents from occurring.

In a press release issued on Monday (Jun 13), the party’s Vice-Chairman John Tan said that the ministry should also publish a full account of the maintenance and repair jobs done for lifts throughout Singapore without further delay.

“It has been more than half-a-year since the Jurong mishap and lift-safety is obviously still not resolved. These problems have resulted in injuries and even a death,” said Mr Tan.

He added that this was despite how Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong had assured members of the public in March that there would not be a compromise on lift safety.

“Could more stringent and urgent steps have been taken? Could the injuries and death have been prevented?” asked Mr Tan.

In March, Mr Wong also said in Parliament that town councils may have to “ring-fence” a portion of their sinking fund to replace old lifts, as he spoke about impending legislative changes to beef up lift regulations and standards. The Building and Construction Authority would also be stepping up on its audit checks on lifts across the island, especially those in HDB blocks, ahead of the legislative changes.

The first of the recent spate of lift malfunctions happened in Jurong in October last year, when an elderly woman had her hand severed after it got trapped between lift doors when she tried to get to her pet dog that was stuck outside the lift.

In May, a 77-year-old man died after he fell backwards and hit his head on the ground while reversing his mobility scooter out of a lift that had stopped about 15 cm above the ground. The accident happened at a HDB block in Pasir Ris Street 21.

Another incident last week left Mdm Yeo Choon Tee, 59, with a spine fracture after a lift in a HDB block in Petir Road had shot up and down erratically.