Worker Killed by Reversing High-Lift Truck

A worker was knocked down and run over by a reversing high-lift truck¹ at night. According to the co-worker, both of them were walking back to their workplace after taking a break near the premises’ loading/unloading bay. The worker was pronounced dead by attending paramedics half an hour later (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Worker hit by reversing high-lift truck while returning to work

Recommendations:

1. Risk assessment: A risk assessment (RA) must be carried out by experienced and knowledgeable persons before starting any work. Through the risk assessment, employers and workers can identify hazards and take appropriate actions to eliminate the hazards or reduce the risks involved. For workplace that involves heavy vehicles, RA must be conducted for:

a. arrival and departure of such vehicles;
b. vehicular traffic within the worksite; and
c. loading, unloading and securing of loads.

In this incident, the RA would include the reversing of heavy vehicles towards loading/unloading bay.

2. Ensure adequate lighting: The risks of injuries are higher in poorly lit areas. Adequate lighting should be provided to enhance the visibility on all roads, passages within the worksite and access routes to worksite.

3. Establish a traffic management plan: A proper traffic management system should be established for the worksite. It is important to provide separate and clearly marked routes for pedestrians. Appropriate barriers or guard rails should be erected in hazardous locations such as building entrances, exits, corners or bends.

4. Ensure safety awareness among workers: All drivers should be briefed regularly on worksite’s safety information such as:

a. route layout;
b. traffic rules/regulations at the worksite;
c. safety procedures for:

Additionally, all workers should be constantly reminded on appropriate safety and health information such as:

a.specific routes for pedestrian;
b. types of vehicle and equipment on site;
c. specific hazards; and
d. information on concurrent work activities on site.

Quality Management System Model

Environmental Management System Model

Occupational Safety and Health Management System Model

Worker Killed by Collapsed Brick Wall During Demolition

A worker was standing adjacent to an L-shaped brickwall, which was to be demolished. The two lengths of the wall were connected by a reinforced concrete tie beam. While a mini excavator breaker was clearing debris from the base of the wall, the wall in front of the excavator collapsed outwards. The connecting tie beam then pulled down the other adjoining wall, causing it to topple inwards. The falling wall struck the worker standing next to it and pinned him under. The worker was brought to the hospital but he subsequently succumbed to his injuries. Initial investigations revealed that the wall might not be adequately anchored into its foundation.

Recommendations*

1. Conduct risk assessment: Prior to the commencement of work, a risk assessment should be carried out to determine the potential hazards and risks that might arise during the demolition work. Control measures and safe work procedures must be established to mitigate the risks, and be communicated and implemented to ensure the safety and health of the workers involved. The key hazard in this case was the wall that destabilised during the demolition works.

2. Cordon off wall/structures to be demolished: Personnel not directly involved in the works should not be allowed in close proximity with any walls or structures that are scheduled to be demolished; Working areas should be cordoned off.

3. Use props or wire ties: Whenever the stability of the walls/structures being demolished are in doubt, props and wire ties should be used to support the structure prior to and during the demolition.

4. Deploy trained personnel: Personnel operating machinery or equipment should be properly trained and should posses appropriate certifications. Checks should be carried out by the management team to ensure that all workers and operators are properly trained and certified to carry out the works assigned to them.

Worker Fell while Plastering Wall at the Ledge of Balcony

In this incident, a worker was found dead on the ground floor of a construction site. Preliminary investigations revealed that the worker was carrying out plastering works at the balcony area within a unit on the 17th storey. The worker was found without any fall protection equipment and it was suspected that the worker fell from the edge of the balcony and landed on the ground. The guardrails that were installed were dislodged at one end.

A similar incident had occurred earlier this year. A worker carrying out plastering work on the external wall of an air conditioning ledge fell to his death from the 9th floor of a building.

Recommendations*

1. Conduct risk Assessment: A risk assessment must be carried out by experienced and knowledgeable persons before starting any work. Through the risk assessment, employers and workers can identify hazards and take appropriate actions to eliminate the hazard or reduce the risks involved. Control measures and safe work procedures must be established, communicated and implemented to ensure the safety and health of the workers. In these cases, one of the key control measures would be to prevent workers from falling while working at height.

2. Establish workplace safety and health management programme and safe work procedures: Employers should establish and implement a safety and health management system with proper control measures and the appropriate safe work procedures. This includes an effective fall protection plan (FPP) for any work that may subject workers to the risk of falling from height. The fall protection plan must be clearly communicated to all levels of personnel, such as through refresher courses or daily toolbox meetings. It is also crucial to ensure that the safe work procedures are adhered to by all sub-contractors to better manage the safety and health of all workers at the workplace.

3. Fall prevention/protection: Work at height must be made safe through fall prevention or protection measures. Examples include installing guard rails that prevent persons from falling over open sides, as well as travel restraint, fall arrest or engineered systems with anchorage points as explained below:

Travel Restraint: A travel restraint system prevents a worker from falling by restricting his body movement into hazardous areas, such as open sides. For such a system, a restraint belt or full body harness is suitable once anchored securely.
Fall Arrest: An individual fall arrest system protects the worker by stopping his fall sp that he does not strike the ground. A full body harness with a self-retracting lifeline or a shock absorber and a lanyard are suitable for fall arrest once anchored securely.
Engineered Systems: Engineered systems such as horizontal lifelines should be installed according to the design by the professional engineer. Deviating from the design can result in the system no functioning as it rightfully should and can result in potentially unsafe conditions for workers.

4. Ensure proper supervision: Employers should ensure that workers adhere to the established safe work procedures, e.g. by ensuring that workers follow the fall protection plan when working at height and disciplining workers who perform unsafe acts and do not comply with the safe work procedures.

A Case of Electric Shock

In a recent incident, a supervisor on night shift duty was installing an electrical device. While performing the job, he did not use the voltage tester nor put on rubber gloves. A short circuit occurred which was followed by a discharge. The supervisor suffered a mild electric shock.

Recommendations:
1. Conduct risk assessment: Before the start of any work, risk assessment must be conducted to identify potential hazards. Appropriate control measures should then be taken to eliminate the hazards or reduce the risks involved. The hazard relevant to this incident was the exposed electrical components that were still “live”.

2. Use of dry rubber insulating mat: Dry rubber insulating mat should be used where there is risk of electrocution. The rubber mat insulates the ground on which the worker stands, reducing the risk of electric current flow through him.

3. Provision of adequate training: All workers should be adequately trained in the identification and control of hazards at the workplace. Specialised electrical safety training must be provided to workers who need to work with or around exposed components of electric circuits. The training should include, but not be limited to, basic electrical theory, proper safe work procedures, hazard awareness, identification and control, proper use of personal protective equipment, proper lockout/ tagout procedures, first aid and rescue procedures. Provisions should also be made for periodic re-training or refresher training.

4. Lockout/ Tagout (LOTO): LOTO procedures should be established and implemented for the inspection, maintenance and repair of any machinery or equipment. All energy sources associated with the machinery or equipment should be isolated, disconnected or discharged to prevent the whole or part thereof of the machinery or equipment from being activated or energised.

5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Appropriate PPE should be provided and used by workers who are potentially exposed to “live” components. These PPE can include electrical resistance or insulating rubber hand gloves and rubber-soled boots.