Updated: 10/29/2013 11:01 | By Channel NewsAsia
MOM fines 61 companies for crane safety lapses
SINGAPORE: Sixty-one out of 90 companies were fined between S$500 and S$3,000 for breaching crane-safety rules.
The firms were fined a total of S$56,750.
This comes at the end of a two-month inspection following a recent spate of workplace deaths, including the collapse of a crane at the National Art Gallery which left two dead.
It is not a tall order to ensure cranes are safe to operate, but not all companies met the safety standards.
Officers from the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) Occupational Safety and Health Division found 189 breaches among 90 work sites during their inspection codenamed Operation Skylark.
The most common offence was failure to maintain cranes in good working condition.
Mohd Ismadi, deputy director of MOM’s Occupational Safety and Health Division said: "Lifting operations is not rocket science. It's basically a matter of putting in place procedures, plans and processes, making sure that persons involved in the lifting operations are competent and making sure the crane operator understands the load that he's carrying and that he adheres to the safe working load that is imposed on the crane."
The 90 work sites have been chosen based on the contractor's past records as well as the number of cranes on each site.
Officers typically spent at least 45 minutes to inspect one crane.
For a start, they made sure that the cranes are supported by steel plates, and they also looked out for the identification number of the cranes to ensure they are registered with the MOM.
Other checks included looking at workers' checklists and documents, as well as checking the quality of wires and ensuring safety standards are met.
Mr Ismadi said: "Crane safety is a priority focus of the ministry, largely because cranes are pretty large machinery. And sometimes they are sited at public areas so in the event of an accident, there might be grave danger to the workers and sometimes, to the members of the public as well, because of the locality of the densely populated area.”
That is why two work sites were made to stop work after officers found serious safety lapses.
Officers said examples of serious lapses include safety devices that don't work, and a compromise in the quality of the crane's wire ropes.
Mr Ismadi added: "Safety regulations alone may not be the solution to ensure the well-being of the workers. Occupiers have to take it upon themselves to ensure they take necessary steps to ensure every worker goes back safely at the end of the day. I think that's paramount.”
The Manpower Ministry said it will continue with inspections at work sites. - CNA/xq/gn
