2 worksite mishaps in 2 days in Woodlands North and Balestier, one construction worker dead
Two separate worksite mishaps in two days resulted in one construction worker injured and another dead.
In the first incident on Oct 10, the construction worker was injured after falling from a height of about 2.3m at a worksite for the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link station in Woodlands North.
He was dismantling falsework at about 8.20pm when the incident happened, a Land Transport Authority (LTA) spokesperson told The Straits Times.
Falsework refers to a temporary structure used to support a permanent one while it is not self-supporting.
LTA added that the worker is currently under observation.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and LTA said they are investigating the incident.
In the second incident on Oct 11, the 38-year-old Bangladeshi worker died after he was struck by a concrete drain channel that was being lifted by an excavator at a worksite in McNair Road in Balestier.
The incident took place at about 9.20am, an MOM spokesperson told The Straits Times.
The developer for the project - which is understood to be the McNair Heights Build-To-Order project - is the Housing Board.
In a statement on Oct 11, HDB expressed its condolences to the victim's family. "Together with the building contractor, Kay Lim Construction & Trading, we will render all the support and assistance needed to them in this difficult time," said HDB.
The MOM spokesperson said the ministry is investigating the incident and has instructed Kay Lim to stop all lifting of precast concrete drain channels at the worksite.
There were 293 major workplace injuries recorded between January and June 2024, according to MOM figures released in October. These are severe non-fatal injuries including dislocation, fracture and paralysis.
Nineteen workers died on the job in the first half of 2024, including five in the construction sector.
