MOM, LTA issue interim safety instructions to SMRT in wake of fatal accident

SINGAPORE - Safety procedures for track access have been strengthened following a fatal accident which took the lives of two SMRT staff on March 22, the transport company said today (Mar 30).

SMRT said in a statement that procedures for authorisation of track access have been strengthened in the areas specified by the Land Transport Authority and the Ministry of Manpower on the same day.

The authorities' interim safety instructions require that SMRT ensure the following:

a) No trains should run in automatic mode for sections of the track where personnel are required on the adjacent track walkway. Trains on such sections of the track should be operated manually, and at low speeds;

b) The section of the track where all works are taking place including maintenance or repair, should be isolated, so as to provide a safe zone before any personnel is allowed to proceed to the area;

c) There should be robust authentication procedures between the personnel deployed on the tracks and the operations control centre to verify the track isolation;

d) Measures for isolation must be continuously in place until staff have left the work area and trackside; and

e) Watchmen should be deployed to alert personnel on the tracks of oncoming trains from both directions of the track.

SMRT added that internal investigations into the cause of the accident will be completed by next week, and that the findings will be reviewed by a panel of independent safety experts and the members of a committee being formed.

The SMRT Board Safety Review Committee will be tasked to look into all safety-related matters in SMRT trains, and review all frameworks, structures, processes and procedures. The committee will be chaired by an SMRT Board Member and will include independent members as well.

SMRT said it is in contact with the families of Nasrulhudin bin Najumudin and Muhammad Asyraf bin Ahmad Buhari, who were among a group of 15 men from SMRT's maintenance crew when they were hit by an oncoming train.

Above: Mr Muhammad Asyraf Ahmad Buhari (left) and Mr Nasrulhudin Najumudin. (Photo: Facebook)

Other staff affected by the accident have also been offered care and counselling, the company added.

ljessica@sph.com.sg