Minister calls for review of building of support structures after accidents
By Rachel Au-Yong, The Straits Times, 31 Jan 2014
THE Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and construction industry must review and prevent lapses in the building process for support structures, said Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin, in the wake of at least seven construction site accidents this month.
"Accidents normally happen when there are lapses," he told reporters after a visit yesterday to a worksite behind Palawan Beach on Sentosa, where a supporting structure collapsed and left 10 men injured and one dead on Wednesday.
Post by Tan Chuan-Jin.
The incident was the third construction site accident reported this week and the sixth this month. Of these, five were related to formwork structures, which are typically made of metal and support the mould into which concrete is poured.
A seventh worksite accident took place on Wednesday afternoon in Kallang, where the new National Stadium is being built.
While the ministry is still investigating the cases, Mr Tan had questions about how the building of support structures was done.
He wondered about things like whether the structures were designed correctly, whether the installation was done properly, and if the right people were trained.
All work at the Sentosa site, which is for a family entertainment centre by construction firm Debenho, has been halted due to safety lapses, said Mr Tan.
An MOM spokesman said initial findings showed safety lapses such as gaps in safety barriers and poor housekeeping.
The centre was previously slated to be built by the year end but this is now likely to be delayed, said a spokesman for Sentosa Development Corp, which commissioned the project. "Our priority is to work towards the safe execution of the works, and to bring the works to full completion."
Yesterday, Mr Tan sent his condolences to the family of the 36-year-old Chinese national who died in the accident. The worker's family members are in the process of getting visas to come here to collect his body.
The centre was previously slated to be built by the year end but this is now likely to be delayed, said a spokesman for Sentosa Development Corp, which commissioned the project. "Our priority is to work towards the safe execution of the works, and to bring the works to full completion."
Yesterday, Mr Tan sent his condolences to the family of the 36-year-old Chinese national who died in the accident. The worker's family members are in the process of getting visas to come here to collect his body.
Debenho project manager Poh Hua Nong said the man died from a head injury, and that the firm would pay for his family to fly here as well as costs related to funeral rites and compensation.
On Wednesday, Mr Tan said that MOM would review two existing workplace safety programmes. Yesterday, he added: "This is just to enhance the whole system, and make sure we heighten sensitivity to safety."
He advised construction firms not to rush, saying that there are proper procedures and "if you cut corners, things can happen".
While the MOM will "press for heavy deterrence if we find that certain groups are responsible (for the accidents)", Mr Tan said he is not considering increasing punishments right now. "It shouldn't be that 'punishments are heavier, therefore I follow'. It is the fact that lives are lost," he said.
Minister issues warning over worksite safety
He vows harsh penalties for errant bosses following spate of accidents
By Hoe Pei Shan, The Straits Times, 30 Jan 2014
He vows harsh penalties for errant bosses following spate of accidents
By Hoe Pei Shan, The Straits Times, 30 Jan 2014
NO SOONER had Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin expressed dismay yesterday at a string of workplace accidents that left eight men dead this month, than yet another tragedy occurred.
The month's death toll rose to nine when a worker died and 10 others were injured at a Sentosa construction site, when the boarded structure for pouring concrete, or formwork, collapsed.
The news left him saying such incidents cannot continue, and he served notice that those who do not take safety seriously will be punished. "I am appalled that there has been yet another serious accident involving formwork," he said in a blog post.
Construction companies have to get their jobs done responsibly because lives are at stake, he said.
"There should not be any more grim reminders of the need for safe practices," he said. "We will investigate the accident thoroughly, and we will take strong actions to address these accidents. Irresponsible contractors who cut corners just to rush construction jobs will face harsh penalties under the law, including imprisonment."
In his earlier blog post before the Sentosa incident, Mr Tan said he had ordered his ministry to investigate this year's accidents thoroughly and review two programmes on safety.
"In my discussions with my colleagues from our Occupational Safety and Health Division, I have found that in every case, the accidents could have been avoided," he said.
He has asked the division to find out what led to the accidents and recommend ways to prevent such incidents from happening again. He has also asked it to review two existing programmes that cover workplace safety. These are the Business Under Surveillance Programme which regulates poor-performing companies, and the Demerit Points System which penalises construction firms for safety breaches.
The reviews will be carried out over the coming months, and aim to help companies assess and improve their workplace safety and health systems.
This month's accidents happened despite measures taken to strengthen the workplace inspection regime, he added.
On Jan 18, the ministry issued an advisory to professional engineers "to remind them of their obligations to carry out proper design, inspections and supervision of formwork construction and concreting processes".
Construction site checks have also been stepped up since Jan 20. Out of 42 inspections in the past week, stop-work orders have been issued for four of them.
Mr Tan noted that contractors under pressure to meet deadlines may adopt unsafe work procedures to speed up, but this cannot be condoned. "I want to make it clear that, tight timelines or otherwise, there is no excuse for cutting corners or sacrificing workers' safety or their lives," he said.
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