Lifting Supervisor Jailed Four Weeks for Fatal Accident - WSH Bulletin

Some lessons which we can learn from...

15 Jan 2010

On 14 January 2010, a site supervisor was jailed 4 weeks for performing a reckless act that resulted in the death of one worker in a lifting accident on 12 October 2007.

The site supervisor was directly in charge of 20 workers who were involved in demolition and structural works. At the time of the accident, he instructed 2 other workers, including the deceased, to help in the lifting of a timber formwork using a mobile crane. During the lifting, the wire rope used in the lifting gave way. The formwork fell about 9 metres and hit one of the workers.

Investigations found that the trained lifting supervisor failed to ensure that the two workers involved were trained riggers and were properly briefed to perform the lifting activity. He also endangered the workers’ safety by exposing them to falling object hazard during the lifting activity.

The Commissioner for Workplace Safety and Health, Ho Siong Hin, said that the 4-week jail term passed by the Court underscores the gravity of the offence and the importance for supervisors to uphold workplace safety. The accident could have been prevented had the supervisor ensured that the necessary safety precautions were in place.

The News taken from HERE.