Tragic accident claims life of 29-year-old construction worker at Sembawang Road worksite

SINGAPORE: On Monday (Oct 9), a 29-year-old construction worker tragically lost his life in a fatal accident at a worksite located at Block 371B, Sembawang Road.

The incident took place at what is believed to be a construction site for a housing project.

Eyewitness accounts and social media posts have shed light on the incident’s details, indicating that it occurred when the worker was struck by a concrete bucket, leading to his fall from the eighth floor of the construction site.

According to a post shared on the Complaint Singapore Unrestricted Facebook group, the worker was engaged in a lifting operation when the accident occurred.

Disturbing photos depict the worker lying unconscious, surrounded by shocked colleagues.

According to the Chinese media 8World News, The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) received a distress call at 3:05 p.m. and promptly dispatched personnel to the scene.

The injured worker was swiftly transported to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital for medical treatment.

Despite the rapid response, the young migrant worker succumbed to his injuries and passed away at the hospital.

Based on preliminary investigations, the police have ruled out the possibility of foul play, and the investigation is still ongoing.

14 workplace fatalities in the first half of 2023

In the first half of 2023, Singapore reported 14 workplace fatalities and 311 major workplace injuries, marking a decrease compared to the second half of 2022 when there were 18 deaths and 316 major injuries, as well as the first half of 2022 when 28 deaths and 298 major injuries were recorded.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in last month has announced its intention to intensify inspections within the metalworking industry and elevate safety standards for smaller-scale construction activities, such as renovations.

These areas were identified as significant contributors to work-related injuries in the first half of 2023.

MOM had previously emphasized the necessity for targeted interventions in these sectors when it released national workplace safety and health statistics for the January to June period.

Major injuries encompass severe non-fatal incidents, including amputations, blindness, and fractures.

To address the issue, MOM instituted a heightened safety period between September 2022 and May 2023, following a series of fatalities in 2022.

According to the latest workplace safety data, this measure has yielded positive results.

However, MOM has raised concerns regarding the construction, transportation, and storage, as well as the manufacturing sectors, which collectively accounted for 13 out of the 14 deaths in the first half of 2023 and 62 per cent of all major injuries.