Worker hurt in school roof cave-in

A roof caved in at a primary school undergoing renovations in Bishan on Friday, injuring a worker.

Mr Kwan Meng Hwa, 37, a resident of a nearby HDB flat who sent The New Paper photos of the collapse, said: "My wife told me she heard a loud crash, and when she rushed to the window, she saw that the structure's roof had collapsed."

At the work site, a construction worker who declined to be named confirmed that one of his co-workers was injured in the accident, which occurred at around 1.50pm.

He told The New Paper: "It was a concrete slab that collapsed."

The police said that the injured worker is in his 20s and was sent conscious to Gleneagles Hospital by his company.

The construction worker said that at around 1.50pm, the estimated 150 workers on site were told to stop work until 4pm.

Another resident, who wanted to be known only as Mr Tan, believes the building with the collapsed roof was the new sports hall.

Resident Ms Janet Lim, 45, whose son is attending the school, said: "Kuo Chuan Primary is temporarily set up at Ang Mo Kio until the end of this year when the construction is done."

The school at Bishan Street 13 is being renovated under the Programme for Rebuilding and Improving Existing Schools, said a spokesman for Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary School.

"Regarding the incident, our No.1 concern is that no one is seriously injured. As far as we know, safety measures are in place over at the construction site," said the spokesman.

On the impact the incident might have on the renovation project, the spokesman said that investigations are underway.

The construction company, Lian Soon Construction, declined to comment.

When contacted, the Ministry of Manpower said that it was aware of the collapse, and that MOM officers are investigating.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force said that they did not receive a call about the incident.

Worksite incidents last year

Oct 8

A crane toppled at Boustead Projects' worksite at Defu Lane, Hougang.

There were no casualties.

Oct 2

Scaffolding at a Toa Payoh North building collapsed, injuring six workers.

A worker was reported to have been clipping his harness to the scaffolding when it became unstable and the structure gave way.

Five of the workers were taken to hospital. The sixth worker was treated on-site for minor injuries.

Sept 30

Two workers died and four were injured when a tower crane crumpled as it lifted an excavator at the site of the new National Art Gallery at Supreme Court Lane.

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