SINGAPORE : The National Trades Union Congress has called for
more effective laws to define employers' obligations for safety at
work.
It says the increasing number of fatal industrial accidents will
affect Singapore's reputation for business excellence.
There were two major industrial accidents in this month
alone.
On Wednesday, an explosion at a warehouse in Tuas killed two
men.
And on the February 12, three Thai workers were killed after
inhaling solvent fumes at a Choa Chu Kang work site.
The explosion that rocked the Hong Huat Hung warehouse shattered
the lives of the Lee family.
64-year-old Lee Lean Seng, one of the company's shareholders, was
found dead on the floor of the warehouse.
His son said his father was planning to take a holiday with them
after the Lunar New Year.
"We didn't go into the mortuary to see his body. We are making
funeral arrangements now. His funeral will most likely be on
Sunday."
The other victim of Wednesday's industrial accident is Goh Tua
Bak.
His son said his father had been with the company for over 10
years.
"The company has contacted us and told us they will take full
responsibility for the incident. It's an industrial incident,
nobody wanted it to happen."
The explosion occurred at about 2pm on Wednesday.
An empty enclosed cylindrical metal tank, measuring 8 metres tall
and 3 metres in diameter, had ruptured.
And the impact ripped the lid of the tank, causing a hole, in the
roof directly above the tank.
In the meantime, neighbors of Hong Huat Hung are working on
repairing their premises.
Parts of their ceiling were damaged as a result of the impact of
the explosion.
The Ministry of Manpower has issued a stop work order to the
company and is now investigating the cause of the explosion.
NTUC has also released a strongly worded statement calling for more
drastic action to be taken by the government where industrial
safety is concerned. - CNA