https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/bedok-condo-worker-death-removed-safety-equipment-coroners-court-4050826
A street view of a condominium at 738 Bedok Reservoir Road where a fatal accident occurred on Jan 12, 2023. (Image: Google maps)
SINGAPORE: A 37-year-old construction worker who was painting the facade of a condominium block in Bedok had removed his safety equipment, including his helmet and boots, shortly before he fell four storeys to his death.
The police further found that Hla Thein Aung likely consumed alcohol or drugs before or during his work period, which affected his balance and caused him to fall off a concrete ledge.
More details of the Myanmar national’s death on Jan 12, 2023 were revealed during an inquiry in the coroner’s court on Tuesday (Jan 16). State Coroner Adam Nakhoda will give his findings at a later date.
It was the first workplace fatality reported in 2023.
Worker dies after falling four storeys at Bedok condominium while painting building facade
On the day of the fatal accident, Hla Thein Aung was painting the exterior wall and aircon ledge of a block at the Waterfront Isle condominium, located along Bedok Reservoir Road.
He and his co-worker – also a Myanmar national – climbed out of a gondola to paint parts of the wall that were out of reach. They both worked for ISOTeam C&P.
Hla Thein Aung was assigned to one side of the building, while his co-worker painted the other side.
The company had failed to identify a safe way of accessing the ledge to complete the painting job, a senior investigation officer from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) told the court.
Under the law, no one should enter or leave a gondola unless it is at rest on the ground or at any level which allows safe access. A gondola can only move up or down, not sideways.
When both workers began their job in the morning, they were both connected to a lifeline – which serves as a personal fall protection system – and wore the requisite safety equipment like a harness, boots and helmet.
They took a lunch break around noon.