SINGAPORE — 30-year-old Indian worker died on Thursday (13 Jul) in a workplace accident at the Changi East project site, which involves the construction of Terminal 5 (T5) and an additional runway for Changi Airport.
The accident occurred at around 4:45 PM when the Indian construction worker, who was operating a skid-steer loader, was struck by a malfunctioning part, resulting in his immediate death.
According to photos circulating online, the injured worker, wearing a safety suit, was observed bleeding profusely inside the vehicle, and it is believed that he lost consciousness. Workers from the Terminal 5 construction site and police officers were present at the scene to maintain order.
In response to an inquiry by Chinese media outlet Lianhe Zaobao, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) confirmed that the worker was operating the skid-steer loader when he was tragically struck by a damaged part within the driver’s cabin. Medical personnel pronounced him dead upon arrival.
The worker was pronounced dead by the arriving medical personnel.
MOM is currently investigating the incident and has instructed the occupier of the worksite to halt all machinery operations.
A spokesperson from MOM explained that a skid-steer loader is a lightweight machinery used for material movement or loading, and it must be used and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations to ensure safety.
The worksite occupier, identified as Hock Lian Seng Infrastructure – CES_SDC JV, is also the employer of the deceased worker.
This joint venture involves Hock Lian Seng Infrastructure and the former Sembcorp Design and Construction, which was acquired by the Chip Eng Seng Corporation in 2019.
A spokesperson from the developer, Changi Airport Group, stated that they are collaborating with the employer to provide assistance to the worker’s family. They refrained from commenting further due to ongoing police investigations.
Previous workplace fatal incidents at the Changi East project
It is worth noting that in November 2021, a 43-year-old Indian national lost his life due to injuries sustained when the machine he was operating overturned and trapped him in the cabin.
The machine in question was a vibratory roller used for soil compaction as part of land preparation and ground improvement works for the project.
The first workplace fatality related to the project occurred in February 2019 when a 27-year-old Indian national was struck by a tipper truck.
This tragic incident marks the 16th workplace death in Singapore this year, following a year of increasing workplace fatalities with a recorded total of 46 in 2022—the highest number since 2016 when there were 66 fatalities.
