Logistics company fined S$190,000 after fatal workplace accident
Poh Tiong Choon Logistics has been fined $190,000 for a death of a worker happened on the 5th September 2015, said by MOM.
An assistant manager of yard operations named Mr Tan Siau Tsing was hit by a heavy vehicle on his way back to office and dragged for about 5m before the driver realized what had happened at the firm’s facility on Jurong Island. He instructed a heavy vehicle that was used to move and stack containers to continue with its duties while he was heading back to the office. However, he topped about 4.5m from the back of the vehicle and talk on his walkie-talkie.
“(The driver) checked both side mirrors, turned his head both ways but did not see the deceased. He sounded the horn and proceeded to reverse the stacker, turning it to the left,” said the ministry in a news release. The driver noticed a slipper and blood trail in front of the vehicle moments later and stopped the stacker. However, he found out that Mr Tan was pinned under the rear tyre on the right. Mr Tan was pronounced dead due to multiple injuries “consistent with having been crushed, run over or possibly dragged by a heavy object or vehicle”.
This accident actually can be avoided if there were clear paths for pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and a proper system for managing traffic. But none of these were carried out.
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