Authorities urge construction, marine firms to review safety protocols following 3 deaths in 2 days

SINGAPORE — Three workers in the construction and marine sectors died in two days this week and the authorities are urging all these firms to conduct a thorough “safety time-out” exercise at their worksites. This means completing a checklist of safety protocols among other measures.

The deaths occurred on Monday (Nov 23) and Tuesday, based on bulletins posted on the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council’s website.

In one incident on Monday, a worker was raising the work platform of a boom lift when he became caught between the guardrail of the boom lift and a roofing structural member.

On Tuesday, another worker fell about 0.8m to the ground after losing his footing while checking formwork panels at a construction site. He died from the injuries after he was taken to the hospital.

In a separate incident the same day, a worker tasked to carry out welding on a pipe was found unconscious with his upper body inside the opening of an adjoining pipe.

To facilitate welding works, an inert gas had been introduced into the pipe earlier. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The Ministry of Manpower is investigating these incidents. The authorities cannot disclose the nationalities of the workers.

In a joint advisory on Friday, the WSH Council and the Singapore Contractors Association said that companies should complete the safety time-out exercise as soon as possible, or at least before Dec 23.

The exercise should take stock and review construction activities and safety protocols to ensure safe operations, they said.

This would include areas such as:

• Stability of structures and supports such as climbing and hanging formworks and safety screens

• Scaffolds including cantilever supports and suspended scaffolds

• Storage of materials including hazardous chemicals

• Working at height and lifting activities

• Temporary electrical installations

The recent fatalities could have easily been prevented if proper risk assessments had been carried out and site personnel had been “vigilant, clear-minded, and maintained a high level of safety awareness at all times,” they said in the advisory.

Though companies may be working on tighter deadlines due to the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the organisations stressed that accidents would cause further delays and tighter deadlines for projects.

They also said that employers should therefore adopt a culture of prevention to ensure a safe restart of work activities after partial or full stoppage due to Covid-19. Among other things, they should:

• Review their risk assessment, safety protocols and risk controls

• Ensure equipment is in good working condition

• Provide refresher training to help workers adjust back to work after a period of inactivity

• Make sure workers are fit and healthy to return to work

Mr Ng Yek Meng, president of the Singapore Contractors Association, said: “Many supervisors and workers have just returned to worksites after a long absence due to the (partial lockdown) period.

“Some complacency may have set in or safety processes might have been overlooked,” he added.

Agreeing, Mr John Ng, WSH Council’s chairman, said: “The recent fatal accidents are strong reminders for us not to overlook the importance of workplace safety and health practices at worksites.

“Companies can do more to actively take ownership of workplace safety and health, and to prioritise the safety and health of its workers.”