ANN/THE STRAITS TIMES – A 38-year-old Indian national who died in a fire at 21 Tuas Avenue 3 on Friday is the 46th workplace fatality in 2022.
On Saturday, Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said that preliminary investigation suggests that the fire, which occurred at 9.25am, was triggered by the uncontrolled release of acetylene, which is a flammable gas, from cylinders on the premises.
The fire was brought under control at about 9.50am, and another worker who was injured – a 43-year-old Chinese national – was conscious when he was taken to Singapore General Hospital.
MOM said it has instructed employer and occupier Asia Technical Gas to stop all work activities in relation to the checking and maintenance of flammable gas cylinders.
The 46 workplace deaths is the highest recorded since 2016 when 66 people died.
The ministry reminded employers that safety must be their top priority, and those with major safety lapses will be held accountable and may face financial penalties, stop-work orders, foreign manpower restrictions and prosecution.
MOM imposed a six-month heightened safety period from September 1, with companies possibly being barred from hiring foreign workers if serious safety lapses are found following an accident.
