DESPITE being given at least a month's notice about workplace safety inspections, contractors at four sites in the Balestier and Novena area failed to clean up their act.

Manpower Ministry inspectors found 50 safety lapses in all, no better a tally than what they usually find during their surprise inspections.

Two contractors were ordered to temporarily stop all work more than two metres above ground because of the risk of workers falling - the No. 1 cause of workplace fatalities.

The majority of the lapses - 43 of the 50 - could result in the contractors being fined up to $5,000 for each offence. The remaining infractions got them warnings.

Among the hazards spotted - unsecured openings, unsafe scaffolding and many poor housekeeping habits, such as equipment or debris left lying around that could trip workers.

The building sites inspected are for three condominiums a church, with all four employing about 850 workers in all.

Many if not all of the lapses found should have come as no surprise to the four companies - GA Construction, Soil-Build, China Construction and Hong Kiat Construction.

They are already in the ministry's bad books as repeat offenders who had chalked up fines and warnings before for similar lapses.

When asked why GA Construction's site had fared so badly in spite of the advance notice, project manager Mr Mo Inn Teck would only say: 'We definitely have to improve on the unsafe aspects. We appreciate MOM's feedback and this operation to minimise accidents'.

The idea behind the new round of checks started by MOM on Thursday was to give employers a chance to take the initative in raising safety standards, which is why they are given advance notice of inspections.

Read the full report in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.