2 more workplace fatalities, including worker hit by forklift at Kranji Water Reclamation Plant

SINGAPORE — Two more workplace fatalities were reported this week, including a Singaporean man who was hit by a forklift at Kranji Water Reclamation Plant.

This brings the number of workplace fatalities to 36 this year, of which five were in August, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Saturday (Aug 27).

The incident at Kranji Water Reclamation Plant happened on Aug 25.

The worker, a 65-year-old Singaporean, was hit by a forklift while loading it onto a lorry.

"While he was securing the forklift to the lorry, the forklift suddenly moved forward and ran over him," said MOM, adding that he was taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital where he died later that day.

In a separate statement on Saturday, national water agency PUB said that the worker was at the site to collect a forklift rented by SANLI Engineering and Construction, a contractor engaged by PUB. 

“PUB express our deepest condolences to the deceased's family. We are in touch with our contractor to render support to the family,” said PUB, adding that it and SANLI will assist MOM with the investigations into the accident.

The other fatality involved a 32-year-old Bangladeshi rigger hired by Senda Construction.

He was working on unloading the base of a concrete lamppost via a lorry loader at a construction site at 60 Woodlands Industrial Park D Street 2 on Friday.

"During the unrigging, the load toppled onto him," said MOM.

"He was pronounced dead at the scene by an SCDF paramedic."

The ministry said it is "deeply concerned" with the high number of workplace fatalities this year, which is just one shy of the total number in the whole of 2021.

MOM will introduce further measures to strengthen workplace safety, adding that more information will be announced when a review is complete.

MOM has ramped up inspections and enforcement actions since April.

In June, it also announced measures such as imposing higher composition fines for offences that were uncovered during inspections.

On Saturday, the ministry reiterated that employers must take more responsibility over the safety of all their workers.

"All workers must also place safety as their priority, watch out for unsafe workplace practices, and bring them to the attention of supervisors and MOM," it added.

"MOM expects all employers and supervisors to give their utmost priority to the safety of their workers. Employers of recent fatalities have been instructed to stop all work and thoroughly review their systems and processes." CNA

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