Stop-work order issued after fatal worksite accident at Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine

SINGAPORE - The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has issued a stop-work order after a fatal accident took place today (Feb 17) at a construction site along 11 Mandalay Road.

The accident, which took place at around 11am this morning, happened at a part of the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine campus which is currently under construction.

"We regret to inform that an accident happened at our worksite at Mandalay Road today at about 11am," Great Earth Construction told ChannelNews Asia.

MOM said that the worker fell to his death when the floor crane he was operating dragged him along when it toppled over the edge of the floor and fell off the building. 

The man was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. He was 25 years old.

Another 57-year-old worker working on the ground level at the time of the accident sustained leg injuries after being hit by debris caused by the impact of the fallen floor crane. He was conveyed to hospital for treatment.

MOM said that it had found safety lapses upon inspection of the site; for example many open sides were not barricaded and could be potential falling hazards to workers. Access to work areas were also not safe, scaffolding was unsafe and lifting gears used for lifting operations were not properly maintained.

Director of the Occupational Safety and Health Inspectorate, Chan Yew Kwong, said the company will be monitored and issued demerit points, as well as fines for the safety contraventions. 

The company also has to address safety lapses before work operations can resume, said MOM.

maryanns@sph.com.sg