In a tragic incident at the North-South Corridor construction site in Lentor Avenue, two workers lost their lives on Tuesday after being struck by heavy machinery. According to the Land Transport Authority (LTA), a group of workers was assembling a winch drum supported on two concrete blocks when the winch slipped off, injuring four of them.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responded to the accident near the junction of Lentor Avenue and Yio Chu Kang Road at around 1.30pm. A 39-year-old Bangladeshi construction worker was pronounced dead at the scene, while a 38-year-old local site engineer succumbed to his injuries at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. The other two workers sustained minor injuries and have been discharged.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing, with a safety time-out called to review safety procedures. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) emphasized the importance of securing heavy machinery or structures in a stable manner to prevent slipping or toppling accidents.
All four workers involved in the tragedy were employed by VSL Singapore, a subcontractor of the main contractor Ssangyong Engineering and Construction working on the North-South Corridor project. LTA expressed deep sadness over the accident and is collaborating with the companies to support the families of the deceased, while assisting the authorities in the investigations.
This unfortunate event is a reminder of the risks faced by workers in the construction industry. The North-South Corridor, a 21.5km-long integrated transport corridor slated to open in 2027, has witnessed previous accidents, including a fatality last year.
