SINGAPORE – The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has called for a safety timeout at the construction site of an MRT station in Pasir Ris, after a section of the noise barrier panels came crashing down upon being hit by machinery.

In response to queries from The Straits Times, spokesmen for the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the LTA said the incident took place on Jan 16 around 5pm, at the site of the upcoming Pasir Ris East station.

While performing excavation works, a grab bucket that was attached to a machine tilted and fell onto the barriers along the perimeter of the worksite, causing part of the barriers to collapse, said the MOM spokesman.

A grab bucket is a tool that has jaws, designed to scoop up materials such as soil, sand or coal.

The spokesman added that the occupier of the worksite is Sinohydro (Singapore Branch), while the developer is the LTA.

The LTA spokesman said the broken panels were removed from the worksite, and a professional engineer has verified that the remaining structure is safe.

A safety timeout is a planned event where companies take time off from their daily work routine to take stock of and review workplace safety and health systems, and work processes.

In a Facebook post on Jan 18, Shin Min Daily News reported that the barriers are about four storeys high and erected just a few metres away from Block 208 Pasir Ris Street 21.

There were no injuries to workers or damage done to the nearby Housing Board block as a result of the accident, said the LTA spokesman.

A noise balloon has been put up at the site to temporarily reduce noise pollution while the barrier is being repaired, he added.

“LTA takes a serious view of safety incidents,” said the spokesman.

“We called a safety timeout to check that the site is in order before allowing (the) contractor to continue work.”

MOM is investigating the incident.

As part of the Cross Island Line, construction of Pasir Ris East station, as well as 11 other stations, is expected to be completed by 2030.