A 74-year-old Singaporean logistics worker died on 14 Aug due to injuries sustained from a fall at a loading bay in Century Square mall in Tampines.
According to Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council, the labourer was pulling a hand trolley backwards in the loading bay on 13 Aug when he fell off the open side of the 1m-tall platform next to a ramp.
It is said that the man could have mistakenly entered the elevating platform instead going down the ramp.
The worker who was employed by AST Logistics, was conveyed to the Changi General Hospital where he passed away the following day.
Investigations are ongoing.
WSH in its bulletin, advised that such accidents can be prevented with the following measures:
• Employers to brief workers (especially new and temporary workers) on the hazards in the workplace (e.g. open sides in the loading bay), safe work procedures, and other risk controls that are in place before allowing the work to begin.
• Install warning signs or bright warning tape/labels at the open sides of elevating platforms to make fall hazards clearly visible.
• If workers must move backwards while moving goods, they should frequently check behind them for trip and fall hazards.
There have been at least 26 workplace fatalities since the start of the year and a safety time-out had to be called out in June this year following spate of nine workplace fatalities between 19 May and 22 June.
