In a recent series of tragic events, two migrant workers lost their lives in separate accidents at Land Transport Authority (LTA) construction sites on the 15th and 16th of September, 2023, according to a report by Channel NewsAsia.
The First Tragedy: 15th September
The first incident took place along the Pan-Island Expressway towards Tuas at around 1 am, and it involved a 45-year-old Indian national construction worker who was tragically killed along with a motorcyclist.
The 45-year-old worker was performing traffic controller duties for road surfacing works when a motorcycle collided with him. Despite the efforts of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) paramedic, both the worker and the motorcyclist were pronounced dead at the scene.
The deceased worker was employed by Ley Choon Constructions and Engineering Pte Ltd, and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is currently conducting an investigation into the deaths.
The Second Tragedy: 16th September
The second incident occurred the following day, on September 16th, at about 10.45am at a worksite along Cavenagh Road, at a worksite that’s part of the North-South Corridor, according to The Straits Times.
A 41-year-old Bangladeshi construction worker lost his life in a tragic accident involving a pallet of gas cylinders.
The gas cylinders had toppled during a lifting operation at the worksite and hit him. Despite efforts to provide medical assistance, the worker succumbed to his injuries while being treated at the hospital.
The police are also no suspecting any foul play in the incident.
The LTA was the developer of the project, and Leighton Yongnam Joint Venture occupied the site. The deceased worker was employed by Royale Construction Pte Ltd. As with the first incident, MOM is actively investigating this tragedy.
The Rising Concern
The Land Transports Authority (LTA) is currently assisting the police and Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in their investigations and are also assisting the families of the deceased.
Acting Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat expressed his sorrow at the recent accidents during the LTA Safety, Health, and Environmental Award Convention on September 19th. He highlighted the importance of maintaining vigilance and strengthening safety practices.
MOM is also taking steps to ensure that lifting operations are conducted with the utmost care and safety. It is vital to prevent any part of a lifted load from becoming entangled with any other structure, as emphasized by MOM.