SMRT Trains charged over 2020 technical officer’s death, faces potential S$1M fine

SINGAPORE: SMRT Trains, the Singaporean rail operator, faced charges on Tuesday (17th October) related to the tragic death of a technical officer in March 2020 at Bishan Depot.

Mr Muhammad Afiq Senawi, aged 30, was operating a hydraulic press machine on 23 March 2020, when a 2.9kg spacer rod unexpectedly flew out of the machine, pierced the fencing, and struck him in the face.

Despite being rushed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, he passed away later that morning.

He was engaged to be married at the time and worked at the depot’s rolling stock workshop and was responsible for MRT train cabins.

The charge against SMRT Trains pertains to their alleged failure to implement reasonable safety measures for their employees at the depot before the accident occurred.

Hydraulic press machines, commonly used for industrial purposes, possess immense force capable of crushing cars.

According to recent court documents, SMRT Trains allegedly neglected to install a pressure gauge for the hydraulic press machine during its repair, failed to establish a hazardous zone to keep operators at a safe distance, and did not employ pressure valves to limit the machine’s maximum operating pressure.

Furthermore, the rail operator did not ensure the machine was adequately guarded to withstand the force exerted by a work piece during operation.

Additionally, the firm allegedly failed to enforce proper engagement and interlocking of work pieces with the hydraulic press machine, thereby preventing the displacement of any single work piece during operation.

Given its previous conviction on Feb 28, 2017, related to the deaths of two individuals, SMRT Trains faces the possibility of harsher penalties.

If found guilty, SMRT Trains could be subjected to a fine of up to S$1 million (approximatey US$730,398).

The case has been adjourned until Nov 30.

In March 2021, during a coroner’s inquiry, the death of Mr Senawi, a technical officer at SMRT, was deemed an ‘unfortunate misadventure’ by Coroner Christopher Goh.

The autopsy revealed multiple injuries to his face, particularly a cut extending from his lower lip to his chin.

2016 tragic trainee deaths led to SMRT’s workplace safety violation conviction

On March 22, 2016, another unfortunate incident occurred, when two trainee employees, part of a 15-member team investigating a fault in the MRT tracks near Pasir Ris MRT station, were struck by a train.

SMRT trainees Muhammad Asyraf Ahmad Buhari, 24, and Nasrulhudin Najumudin, 26, were killed by an oncoming train travelling between Tampines and Pasir Ris MRT stations on that day morning.

SMRT Trains was hauled to court in December 2016 for flouting the Workplace Safety and Health Act. The operator admitted to failing to ensure employees complied with approved operating procedures when accessing the train track, and neglecting to ensure that the actual actions had passed safety audits, and were documented and disseminated.

The rail operator was later fined S$400,000 for the incident.