SINGAPORE - A cleaner was killed in a freak accident after getting crushed by a rubbish compressor at a rubbish bin centre on Monday morning (Jan 11) near Bedok Reservoir Road Block 620 at about 9.16am.
The 37-year-old Bangladeshi, identified as Ali, leaves behind his wife and three children, Lianhe Wanbao reported.
The Chinese evening daily, citing a 26-year-old worker who works near the rubbish bin centre, reported that Ali may have died when he tried to kick the malfunctioning waste compacting machinery, but accidentally fell inside.
A colleague immediately called for an ambulance, Lianhe Wanbao added. A spokesman for the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) told The Straits Times that they were alerted to the accident at about 9.16am.
Ali was found "inside the refuse compactor of the centralised refuse chute with no pulse and not breathing," the report added. He was later pronounced dead at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) chairman Pritam Singh said that the town council and the conservancy contractor are assisting the authorities in their investigations into this incident.
"In light of this incident, the Town Council management has directed all its conservancy contractors to carry out toolbox talks to their staff, and to follow up with additional safety briefings as a matter of urgency," the Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC said.
10 of Ali's relatives and friends gathered at the mortuary on Tuesday morning to identify his body.
Ali's distraught brother-in-law, Sudan, 41, said that Ali was a good husband and the sole breadwinner for the family.
The construction worker added: "Ali came to work in Singapore three years ago and drew a monthly pay of $600. He lived frugally to send money back home to his wife and three children."
The remains of the deceased will be transported back to Bangladesh, reported Lianhe Wanbao.
Police investigations are ongoing.
grongloh@sph.com.sg