CNA – Two construction workers died in separate workplace accidents at Land Transport Authority (LTA) worksites in Singapore.
A 45-year-old Indian national died after a motorcycle accident along the Pan-Island Expressway towards Tuas at about 1am on September 15.
The construction worker was performing traffic controller duties for road surfacing works when the motorcycle collided with him.
Both the worker and the motorcyclist were pronounced dead at the scene by a Singapore Civil Defence Force paramedic, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). The worksite occupier and employer of the deceased worker is Ley Choon Constructions and Engineering.
“As a general safety measure, road work contractors are reminded to adhere to guidelines stipulated in the Land Transport Authority’s Code of Practice for Traffic Control at Work Zone,” said MOM, adding that it is investigating the incident.
The second incident occurred at about 10.45am on September 16 at a North-South Corridor worksite along Cavenagh Road.
A 41-year-old Bangladeshi worker was struck by a pallet of gas cylinders that toppled during a lifting operation, said MOM.
He was taken to hospital, where he died of his injuries.
LTA is the developer of the project and the worksite occupier is Leighton-Yongnam Joint Venture. The employer of the deceased worker is Royale Construction. MOM has stopped lifting operations at the worksite while investigations are ongoing.
“We are saddened by the accident and are working with our contractor to render assistance to the family of the deceased,” said LTA, adding that no one else was hurt in the incident.
All work activities at North-South Corridor worksites under Leighton-Yongnam Joint Venture were stopped after the incident.
Leighton-Yongnam Joint Venture and LTA are assisting the police and MOM in their investigations.
“As a general safety measure, care must be taken to prevent any part of a lifted load from becoming entangled with any other structure,” said MOM.
Acting Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said yesterday morning at the LTA Safety, Health and Environmental Award Convention that there has been an uptick in workplace accidents at LTA sites this year.
There have been 33 accidents in the first eight months of 2023, compared with 27 in the same period last year.
He said he was saddened by the two recent fatal accidents at two LTA worksites.