Parliament must act to ensure safety
The following letter was published in the Straits Times forum on 26 June 2010.
Jun 26, 2010
WORKERS IN FATAL CRASH
Parliament must act to ensure safety
I REFER to Wednesday's report ('New safety rules should kick in sooner, many say'), and fully agree with Madam Halimah Yacob, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Manpower, that buses are the best way to transport workers.
In fact, it should be the only way.
Tuesday's fatal accident killed three foreign workers who were among a group of workers being transported in a lorry when the crash occurred.
It seems clear enough that ferrying people on the back of lorries built to carry goods is dangerous. Installation of higher railings is ineffective when the lorry tips over or when another vehicle hits the side of the lorry.
Tuesday's accident suggests that Parliament cannot maintain that its paramount aim is worker safety, and yet contradict itself by accepting that installing canopies and higher railings and lowering the number of workers transported per lorry are sufficient safety measures.
It is clear that cost, and not safety, is paramount to the employers. So, until the market provides a cheaper alternative to ferry workers, Parliament must step up and protect these workers, and do so soon.
If we hope for Singaporeans to be more gracious and caring as a society, then we have to start by ensuring that no more innocent lives are lost by the passivity of the law and because of the bottom line of construction companies.
Esther Yee (Ms)
Jun 26, 2010
WORKERS IN FATAL CRASH
Parliament must act to ensure safety
I REFER to Wednesday's report ('New safety rules should kick in sooner, many say'), and fully agree with Madam Halimah Yacob, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Manpower, that buses are the best way to transport workers.
In fact, it should be the only way.
Tuesday's fatal accident killed three foreign workers who were among a group of workers being transported in a lorry when the crash occurred.
It seems clear enough that ferrying people on the back of lorries built to carry goods is dangerous. Installation of higher railings is ineffective when the lorry tips over or when another vehicle hits the side of the lorry.
Tuesday's accident suggests that Parliament cannot maintain that its paramount aim is worker safety, and yet contradict itself by accepting that installing canopies and higher railings and lowering the number of workers transported per lorry are sufficient safety measures.
It is clear that cost, and not safety, is paramount to the employers. So, until the market provides a cheaper alternative to ferry workers, Parliament must step up and protect these workers, and do so soon.
If we hope for Singaporeans to be more gracious and caring as a society, then we have to start by ensuring that no more innocent lives are lost by the passivity of the law and because of the bottom line of construction companies.
Esther Yee (Ms)
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