A 37-year-old male Bangladeshi worker died after he fell 20m from the roof of a condominium in the West Coast area, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said on Tuesday, 31 May 2022.
According to CNA, MOM said that the worker was performing waterproofing works on the roof of the Westcove condominium located at 16 West Coast Crescent, at about 10:45am on 24 May when he slipped and fell.
He tragically plummeted 20m to the ground below and was conveyed to National University Hospital (NUH). It was at NUH where the worker subsequently succumbed to his injuries. The occupier and employer is RJ Contract, the ministry added.
Ministry of Manpower Investigating the Accident
“MOM is investigating the accident, and has instructed the occupier to stop all work activities within the premises,” said MOM.
It added, “As a general safety measure, every means by which a worker may fall from height (for example, open sides, openings and fragile surfaces) should be identified and guarded or covered. In addition, workers should be equipped with safety equipment to prevent falls.”
Third Workplace-Related Death in a Week
This is the third reported workplace death in about a week.
On 27 May, a 49-year-old worker died after being pinned under a large metal cylindrical pipe when a lorry crane toppled on its side. He was freed by rescuers and taken to hospital, where he died of his injuries on the same day.
On 19 May, a 49-year-old man died after he fell through a skylight and landed 9.5m below on the factory floor in Joo Koon. He was taken to hospital, where he died of his injuries on the same day.
There have been 25 workplace deaths this year so far, higher than the 23 workplace deaths recorded in the first half of last year. It is also higher than the number of deaths in the first half of 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic when 17 deaths were recorded.
