Worker dies at Tuas Water Reclamation Plant worksite after steel bar falls & hits him

Oct 19, 2024

Latest News Singapore

This is the second fatal worksite accident in one week.

By Jeremy Lee - 18 Oct 2024, 11:30 pm

A worker has died in an accident at the Tuas Water Reclamation Plant (TWRP) worksite.

He was reportedly knocked unconscious after being hit by a falling steel bar.

Source: PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency on Facebook

In response to queries from MS News, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it received a call for assistance at about 3.15am on Friday (18 Oct).

The location was 71A Tuas Nexus Drive — the address of the TWRP worksite, according to Google Maps.

Source: PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency on Facebook

One person was conveyed to the National University Hospital (NUH).

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) told MS News that the 46-year-old man was conveyed unconscious to the hospital, where he subsequently passed away.

He had been involved in “a work-related incident”, it added.

The accident took place at about 3.05am, national water agency PUB told The Straits Times (ST).

It occurred when a heavy steel bar used to fortify concrete was dislodged.

It fell from a height and hit the worker, a Chinese national.

He was conveyed unconscious to NUH’s intensive care unit. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries at about 10.20am the same day.

A safety timeout has been imposed on the site, PUB said.

During this period, safety procedures involving steel bars will be reviewed.

The agency is also “cooperating fully with the authorities on investigations”.

A Ministry of Manpower (MOM) spokesman told ST that the worker worked for DKS Builders.

The site is being occupied by Sinohydro Corporation.

PUB is in contact with the contractors with regards to assistance to the family of the deceased, it said.

The MOM spokesman added that areas where there is a risk of falling objects must be demarcated to prevent unauthorised entry “as a general safety measure”.

A 35-year-old man was arrested for causing death by a negligent act, SPF said.

Police investigations are ongoing.

The TWRP, set to be ready in 2026, will be part of Tuas Nexus, Singapore’s first integrated used water and solid waste treatment facility that will be fully energy self-sufficient, according to PUB.

Source: National Environment Agency

When operational, the facility will receive used water flows via two separate deep tunnels for domestic used water and high-strength industrial used water.

The domestic used water will be treated and further purified to NEWater, while the industrial used water will be treated before being discharged to the sea.

By integrating used water and solid waste treatment processes, Tuas Nexus “maximises energy efficiency and generation as well as resource recovery, while maintaining a small footprint”, PUB said.

The latest worksite death is the second in one week after a 38-year-old Bangladeshi worker died at a construction site along McNair Road last Friday (11 Oct).

Construction worker dies at worksite near Boon Keng after being hit by concrete component

He was struck by a precast concrete drain channel, which was being lifted by an excavator.

Last Thursday (10 Oct), a construction worker was injured after falling from a height of 2m at the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transport System (RTS) Link station worksite in Woodlands North.

Also read: Construction worker falls 2m at Woodlands RTS Link station worksite, taken to hospital

Construction worker falls 2m at Woodlands RTS Link station worksite, taken to hospital

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Featured image adapted from PUB.

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