Increased safety measures underway following a troubling rise in workplace fatalities.
SINGAPORE: A 31-year-old Singaporean lost his life after being struck and pinned by a toppled machine on Tuesday, December 27, according to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). The tragic incident occurred at 601 Rifle Range Road at 7:53 a.m., marking the 45th workplace fatality in Singapore for the year.
Reports indicate that the man was hit by a machine being moved by a forklift. He was unconscious when transported to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
MOM emphasized the importance of safety when operating forklifts, stating, “It is critical to ensure that the forks are inserted underneath the load, and that the load is stable before being raised for transfer.” In response to the accident, MOM has ordered ST Engineering Advanced Material Engineering, the site’s occupier, to halt all lifting operations.
Earlier this year, MOM revealed a concerning spike in workplace fatalities, which rose by 65% in the first half of 2022 compared to the same period in 2019.
To combat this alarming trend, MOM has implemented additional inspections aimed at minimizing such accidents. A recent episode of Talking Point on mewatch.sg highlighted various safety breaches at construction sites, ranging from protruding nails to improper material storage.
From September 1, 2022, to February 28, 2023, MOM has mandated six months of heightened safety measures in response to the high number of workplace fatalities. Companies operating in higher-risk sectors are required to conduct a mandatory safety time-out to review their safety protocols during this period.
The Multi-Agency Workplace Safety Taskforce (MAST) has also been established to strengthen safety practices and outcomes across various sectors. Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad noted that MAST will focus on key industries such as construction, manufacturing, transport and storage, and marine.
An update on the measures implemented by MAST is expected in the second quarter of 2023
