Worker dies after being hit by timber fragment; 30th workplace fatality this year

SINGAPORE: A worker died in hospital on Wednesday (Jul 13) a week after being hit by a timber fragment, taking the total number of workplace fatalities this year to 30.

The 51-year-old man was working at Pasir Ris Drive 1 on Jul 6 when the accident happened at about 10am, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

The worker was struck by a timber fragment when it broke from a piece of plywood that was used in a pile load test, said the ministry. 

He was taken to Changi General Hospital and died from his injuries a week later on Jul 13.

In construction, piling involves drilling foundations through the ground to provide structural strength and prepare the ground to carry heavy infrastructure loads, such as a new home or office building.

Load tests are carried out by placing weights or pressure on these foundation piles to assess the load it can carry.

"As a general safety measure for activities where flying fragments are common, steps should be taken to prevent these fragments from hitting persons or causing property damage," said MOM.

The developer of the site is United Microelectronics Corporation (Singapore Branch). The occupier and employer of the worker is Takenaka Corporation. 

MOM is investigating the accident and has instructed the piling contractor, BBR Piling, to stop all work activities relating to pile testing.

Harsher penalties for companies with poor workplace safety and health performance kicked in last month.

The composition fine for offences observed during MOM inspections has been doubled from S$1,000 to S$2,000 on average, up to a maximum sum of S$5,000.

Companies that have been issued with stop-work orders or have had major injuries will also be required to engage external auditors to conduct a thorough review of their processes.