Case Highlights Gaps in Workplace Safety Protocols
Fatal Workplace Incident
A Singapore court fined a 65-year-old employer, Lee Ee Ten, S$100,000 on Tuesday (Sep 20) for failing to implement essential safety measures, resulting in the death of her employee, Mr Tong Baorong, in 2019.
Mr Tong, an electrician employed by Lee, was electrocuted while replacing a roller shutter motor at Tritech Building, Changi South Avenue 2. Lee pleaded guilty to negligence in ensuring the safety and health of her employees, which directly led to the tragedy.
Details of the Incident
On Nov 7, 2019, Mr Tong and two co-workers, deployed by Tan Kim Seng Roller Shutters, began replacing the motor of a roller shutter. Mr Tong climbed a 5.9m aluminium ladder to disconnect the isolator and replace the motor.
While reconnecting the motor to the isolator, Mr Tong made a critical error, assuming the electricity supply was single-phase when it was actually three-phase. This miscalculation caused the motor’s metal frame and the aluminium ladder to become live when the isolator was switched on.
Mr Tong was electrocuted, falling to the ground from the ladder. He succumbed to electrocution injuries later that morning.
Employer’s Negligence
Investigations revealed significant safety lapses on Lee’s part. Her risk assessment for the task failed to identify the potential for electrocution, focusing instead on falling hazards and being struck by objects.
Further, Lee had not implemented adequate safety protocols for working with live electrical equipment. Proper measures, such as verifying the type of electricity supply, providing insulative protective equipment, and maintaining safe distances from live parts, were missing.
Additionally, none of the employees, including Mr Tong, had received the necessary training or qualifications for the tasks they performed. Lee’s toolbox meetings were deemed insufficient, as she lacked knowledge of the work processes and related safety precautions.
Legal Consequences and Lessons
Lee faced penalties under Singapore’s Workplace Safety and Health Act, with a maximum potential sentence of two years in jail, a fine of up to S$200,000, or both. The court allowed her to pay the fine in instalments, to be completed by February 2023.
This case underscores the critical need for employers to thoroughly assess workplace hazards and ensure employees are adequately trained and equipped to perform their duties safely.
