SBS Transit fined for safety lapses which resulted in death of security guard

SBS Transit was fined $7,000 on Monday for safety lapses which led to a 900kg gate falling on a 55-year-old security guard on his first day of work in March 2011.

Mr Ong Yue Hing died in hospital five hours after suffering multiple injuries due to the accident, which occurred at the North-East Line Depot in Sengkang East Avenue.

The court heard how SBS Transit instructed ST Synthesis to remove the motor which opened and closed the gate, for repair. It then handed over the gate to Alstom Transport on March 7, 2011, without conducting a risk assessment of the workplace. Alstom was engaged to build additional train tracks.

An assessment would have probably revealed that the gate was in danger of toppling without its motor, said the Ministry of Manpower prosecutor. SBS Transit, which pleaded guilty last Monday, could have been fined up to $10,000.

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