Director Jailed for Manipulating Risk Assessment After Worker’s Fatal Fall
In addition, Flux General Contractors was imposed a fine of S$50,000.
Director Jailed for Manipulating Risk Assessment : In Singapore, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) reported on Wednesday (Nov 8) that the director of a construction company has been sentenced to three weeks in jail. This decision was made due to his request for his manager to falsify a risk assessment and safe work procedures after an employee tragically fell to his death. Yang Wei Qi Elijah, the director of Flux General Contractors, received his sentence on October 13, as disclosed in MOM’s October report.
The construction company was initially contracted to erect a canopy and carry out flooring and waterproofing works at a three-story semi-detached house. The canopy works were later subcontracted to SK Hacking, who, in turn, subcontracted the canopy’s glass installation to Verre Glass Construction.
On May 9, 2019, a worker named Che Chee Eh, along with three colleagues, was installing glass panels for the canopy when he fell from a height of approximately 3.2 meters. Tragically, he was pronounced dead at the scene by a paramedic.
As the director of Flux General Contractors, Elijah held responsibility for safety matters related to the works. However, he delegated the management of the premises to Lim Har Kin Kelvin, a freelance sales manager employed by Flux General Contractors.
Upon learning of the fatal incident, Elijah instructed Kelvin to falsify the risk assessment and safe work procedures, attributing them to SK Hacking instead of Verre Glass Construction. He did this with the knowledge that MOM would request these documents as part of the investigation.
Elijah later admitted to falsifying the documents and was subsequently sentenced to three weeks’ jail under the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Act. MOM emphasized its commitment to taking a stern stance against individuals who undermine investigation processes and safety standards at work sites.
The investigation by MOM also revealed that Flux General Contractors failed to ensure that SK Hacking had the necessary expertise and training for the works. The company had contracted SK Hacking based on their past working relationship, and they did not guarantee a proper risk assessment and necessary safety measures were in place.
As a consequence, Flux General Contractors received a fine of S$50,000 under the WSH Act on October 13. Legal cases against other parties involved, including SK Hacking and its director Samuel Lim Chee Peng, as well as the sole proprietor of Verre Glass Construction, Desmond Tan Chee Keong, are still ongoing.
MOM’s October report also highlighted other workplace accidents. Vehicular and machinery-related incidents, as well as falls from heights, were identified as top causes of fatal and major injuries in the first half of 2023. One such case involved Kim Hock Corporation, a company involved in processing scrap metal for overseas export. They were fined S$240,000 on October 13 following a fatal incident that occurred on February 24, 2020.
In this incident, workers were performing maintenance on a machine used to cut scrap metal. A worker mistakenly pressed a button that caused the machine’s door to pin another worker against the machine. MOM’s investigations revealed that Kim Hock Corporation’s procedures were not aligned with the machine’s manual, and they failed to ensure adequate safe work procedures and training.
The case against the worker responsible is still ongoing. Additionally, Chew’s Agriculture, a poultry farm involved in various livestock-related activities, was fined S$185,000 on October 26 after an employee was run over by a truck while performing traffic control duties. MOM’s investigations revealed multiple safety lapses, including the failure to implement a traffic management plan and inadequate training for employees performing traffic control.
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