Feb 10, 2011
Two Bangladeshi workers given maximum fine
By Elena Chong
TWO Bangladeshi workers of ExxonMobil's resident contractor were each fined $1,000 on Thursday for violating the Workplace Safety and Health Act.
Hannan Abdul Jalil Monowara Begum, a process maintenance and construction worker, and Anowar Hossain Khan Md Shahadatali Khan, a site supervisor, pleaded guilty to failing to co-operate with their employer, Mun Siong Engineering, to such an extent as will enable the contractor to comply with the provisions of the Act.
The May 3, 2007 breach resulted in the death of three workers from the engineering company at ExxonMobile oil refinery in Jurong Island. Last month Mun Siong was fined $100,000 for failing to ensure the safety of the three workers.
The court heard that five workers had removed a steel plate between two devices called heat exchangers, when a liquid containing flammable naphtha spilled out from inside.
Khan had failed to ensure a suitable 'drip pan' was available to collect the spill while Begum had failed to re-tighten a vertical flange between the heat exchangers to stop the spill. Instead, he spayed water at the flange to wash away the liquid mixture.
Ten minutes later, a fire broke out, killing the three workers and injuring another. Begum escaped unharmed.
