SINGAPORE: A two-week enforcement operation targeting crane and lifting operations has been launched by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
In a press release on Wednesday (Mar 18), MOM revealed that a total of seven accidents involving crane and lifting operations have occurred since January this year. A crane accident took place on Jan 19, while two occurred on Feb 24 and 25. Four accidents happened between Mar 3 and 9, said MOM.
While the series of accidents did not involve fatality or workers sustaining serious injuries, MOM said these crane accidents could result in a “catastrophic impact on the safety of workers and the public”.
As such, MOM said the purpose of the island-wide operation – that is slated to end in late March – is to ensure that contractors remain vigilant.
“I am dismayed that we recently saw six accidents involving cranes in less than three weeks. This is totally unacceptable,” said MOM’s Director of Occupational Safety and Health Inspectorate, Chan Yew Kwong.
Mr Chan added: “Our preliminary findings indicated that many of these cases could have been prevented if there were proper implementation of lifting plans and regular functionality checks on crane’s safety devices to ensure that they are in good working condition.
“Safety is paramount. Employers and occupiers ought to play their part in taking the necessary preventive measures to put an end to unsafe lifting operations.”
MOM added that it would like to remind crane owners, operators and worksite occupiers of their responsibility to ensure that crane operations do not endanger the safety of their workers and the public.
Under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, companies that fail to take reasonably practicable measures to ensure the safety and health of their workers can be fined up to S$500,000 for a first offence.
news source & image credits: channelnewsasia.com
