Three construction workers at the National University of Singapore were killed on February 22, when a tower crane collapsed. The next day, WSHAC members vistied the site, and spoke to the management of the lead contractor, Kimly Construction. The WSHAC said that, ‘[Contractors’] co-operation with the WSHAC is important to derive learning points that will be shared with others, and will contribute to higher awareness and heightened capabilities to carry out safe crane operations.’
WSHAC chairman Lee Tzu Yang added, “With the increase in the number of construction projects, crane usage is high as many of the sites require cranes for lifting activities. In densely built-up Singapore, it is critical for crane operations to be carried out safely, as they may potentially affect not only workers, but also public areas and the public-at-large.” In the NUS accident, the crane had fallen close to a busy bus stop.
The WSHAC pointed out that it had been working on improving lifting practices in the city, before the accident happened. A public forum had been scheduled for February 26, to share experience derived from crane accidents. The agency said more than 200 construction industry stakeholders had attended the forum. A second session in March will be accompanied by the release of WSHAC health and safety statistics for 2007.
The WSHAC is currently working on developing a safety checklist that construction companies can use to help them work more effectively with crane suppliers and maintenance firms.
