53-year-old Singaporean worker dies after glass doors topple on him, fourth workplace fatality in 2023 – The Online Citizen Asia

SINGAPORE —  A 53-year-old Singaporean worker who was unloading a shipment of glass doors with two other workers, died from injuries after nine glass doors toppled on the three of them.

This is the fourth workplace fatality in 2023.

According to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM)’s statement, the unfortunate incident occurred at 61 Alexandra Terrace Harbour Link Complex at about 2.15 pm last Thursday (2 February).

The three workers from AGL Facade Systems were unloading the glass doors from a shipping container when nine of the doors toppled onto them.

Two workers were injured and taken to the National University Hospital. The 53-year-old suffered from injuries while his colleague is in stable condition. The third worker in the team was not injured.

MOM said it is investigating the incident and has instructed AGL Facade Systems to stop all work activities.

The company also ordered to appoint a workplace safety and health auditor to review their current work practices.

MOM also barred the company from hiring new foreign workers for three months.

MOM said the director of AGL Facade Systems will also be required to personally account to MOM and take direct responsibility for rectifications.

“For safe unloading, forklifts or purpose-built telescopic handlers should be used. If the items are to be manually shifted, proper means of support… must be provided to prevent other items within the container from toppling.”

Other proper means of support, such as props, braces, frames or restraint belts, should also be provided if the items need to be transported manually to prevent other items within the container from toppling.

A spokesman for PBT Engineering, the building’s occupier, told the Straits Times that the company will cooperate fully with the investigating authorities.

He added that the firm sympathised with the victim’s family and that it was committed to extending to them its utmost support.

There have been three workplace deaths in January 2023.

On Jan 12, a 37-year-old worker from Myanmar, died after he fell four storeys from a ledge that he had climbed onto. He was painting the facade of the Waterfront Isle condominium in Bedok at the time and wearing a body harness, but it was not anchored.

On Jan 19, a 66-year-old Singaporean pump attendant was knocked down by a car that was leaving the petrol station at Sengkang East Road, causing him to fall and hit his head. He died from his injuries on Jan 23.

On Jan 31, a 44-year-old Malaysian prime mover driver employed by freight forwarding company Handling System died after his vehicle fell into the sea at Keppel Terminal.