The Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council said in a Facebook statement yesterday (4 October) that a worker was killed after being crushed by a toppled steel gate at the entrace of a warehouse in Singapore, earlier this year.
WSH’s statement
Driver crushed by toppled gate
On 9 June 2023, a prime mover driver was closing a steel sliding gate at the entrance of a warehouse when the gate travelled beyond its stopper and toppled onto him. He was sent to the hospital where he died the same day.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the stopper affixed at the top of the gate was worn, which could have resulted in the gate travelling beyond its guide bracket.
If sliding gates are not properly designed, installed, operated, or maintained, they can topple and lead to serious and even fatal workplace injuries. The WSH Council calls on all companies with such gates at their premises to put in place the necessary safety measures to prevent gate toppling incidents.
What companies should do
Companies should review and make sure adequate safety measures have been made and implemented for sliding gates at their workplaces. Some of these measures include:
- Design of gate stopper: Stoppers should be designed and sized to prevent derailment during operation. Corrosion, weathering and repetitive use may make the stopper ineffective and the gate unsafe. Seek the manufacturer’s advice on replacing the stoppers in such cases.
- Gate inspection and maintenance: Gates should be inspected and maintained based on the manufacturer’s recommendations. If the stopper needs to be removed during maintenance, the gate must be properly propped and supported to prevent toppling. Warning signs and barricades should also be put up to warn and keep others away from the unsecured gate.
- Gate repair: Only trained and authorised personnel can carry out repair work on the gate.
- Gate modification: Do not modify any part of the gate and its components unless approved by the gate’s manufacturer.
- Report defects: Stop using the gate immediately if any defect is spotted on the gate. Report the defect to the gate’s manufacturer as soon as possible. Work with the manufacturer to develop safe work procedures for handling defective gates.
For more information, refer to the Circular on Safety Considerations in Gate Design and Operation at https://www.mom.gov.sg/…/circular-20120301-safety…
Under the WSH Act, first-time corporate offenders may be sentenced to the maximum fine of $500,000 whilst individuals can either be sentenced to the maximum fine of $200,000 and/or an imprisonment not exceeding 2 years.
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