https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/forklift-stacker-operator-whose-negligence-caused-surveyor-to-be-crushed-to-death-gets-jail

Mr Arumugam Ganesan had driven a stacker while concurrently lowering a container at a depot in Pioneer Crescent on Oct 1, 2021.

SINGAPORE – A certified forklift stacker operator failed to ensure that he had a clear view while transporting a shipping container, which resulted in a quality control surveyor getting crushed to death on Oct 1, 2021.

In earlier proceedings, the court heard that the container, which weighed more than two tonnes, had been lowered onto Mr Teo Ser Kiong, 49. It was 6.06m long, 2.44m wide and 2.59m high.

Malaysian Arumugam Ganesan, 45, who admitted he had been negligent on the day of the tragedy, was sentenced to 138 days’ jail on April 4 after he pleaded guilty to an offence under the Workplace Safety and Health Act.

Ministry of Manpower prosecutor Delvinder Singh said that at the time of the offence, Arumugam and Mr Teo were working for a firm called Allied Container (Engineers & Manufacturers).

Mr Singh added: “The accused had assumed that there was (no other person and no container) in his path when he operated the forklift stacker, resulting in his view being blocked, and the eventual fatality.”

At around 5pm on Sept 30, 2021, Mr Teo gave Arumugam a list of available and damaged containers that were scheduled for export.

Arumugam was tasked to move these containers to their designated locations before they were to be exported the next day.

Catch up on the news that everyone’s talking about

[Sign up](javascript:;)

By signing up, I accept SPH Media's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy as amended from time to time.

Yes, I would also like to receive SPH Media Group's marketing and promotions.

The two men later reported for work at a depot in Pioneer Crescent on Oct 1, 2021.

In his findings dated May 19, 2023, State Coroner Adam Nakhoda said that according to evidence, Mr Teo did not inform a depot manager he was entering the working area where the containers were located.

Allied Container’s traffic management plan required staff to notify the depot manager before going into such an area.

The depot manager would then alert stacker operators, so that the operators could either avoid the area or stop work in the relevant area that the staff would be in.

Shortly before the tragedy, Mr Teo was seen holding a stack of papers while standing at a storage area. He appeared to be checking some containers.