Man who died after accident at fishery among 3 workplace fatalities in 5 days

The Myanmar national was pulling a net while wading across a fish pond when he started to struggle in the water. PHOTO: WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH COUNCIL/FACEBOOK
Another case involved a Singaporean forklift operator who died after an accident at a warehouse in Tanjong Penjuru on June 14. PHOTO: WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH COUNCIL/FACEBOOK

SINGAPORE - A man who died after an accident at a fishery in Lim Chu Kang Lane was among three workplace fatalities between June 10 and 14, the Workplace Safety and Health Council said on Monday (June 21).

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is investigating the incidents.

The 36-year-old Myanmar national was pulling a net while wading across a fish pond when he started to struggle in the water, a spokesman for MOM told The Straits Times. He was pulled out of the pond by his co-workers.

A spokesman for the police said they received a call alerting them to the incident at 7 Lim Chu Kang Lane at 8.46am on June 11.

No foul play is suspected but investigations are ongoing.

A spokesman for the Singapore Civil Defence Force said the victim was taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, where he later died.

The MOM spokesman said the man's employer as well as occupier of the site is Royal Crown Fishery & Trading. The firm has been instructed to stop all fish harvesting at the site.

Another case involved a 31-year-old forklift operator who died after an accident at a warehouse in Tanjong Penjuru on June 14.

The MOM spokesman said the Singaporean was operating a forklift and had unloaded palletised goods from a container when he dismounted and stood next to them. The goods toppled, pinning him to the floor.

The man was unconscious when taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and he later died.

The MOM spokesman told ST that the occupier of the site is Compass Rose Freights Systems, and the man was employed by Bok Seng Logistics. MOM has instructed Bok Seng Logistics to stop all forklift operations on the premises.

In another accident on June 10, a 25-year-old Bangladeshi construction worker fell about 40m to his death at a Tuas building site. The case was previously reported by ST.

The total number of work-related deaths this year is now 22, said the MOM spokesman. There were 14 workplace deaths between January and April this year.

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