Worker-transport safety rules may come sooner
The following article was published in the Straits Times on 26 June 2010.
Worker-transport safety rules may come sooner
By Daryl Chin
Straits Times, Jun 26, 2010
Reproduced photo caption: After a recent spate of accidents involving workers on lorries, a public outcry ensued. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
THE Land Transport Authority (LTA) is considering bringing forward the implementation of stricter measures to ensure the safety of workers when being transported.
In a statement sent to The Straits Times, it said: 'We are looking into the circumstances of the recent accidents and if necessary, we will consider doing more, including bringing forward the implementation of the remaining measures.'
The remaining measures include higher protective side railings and canopies to be installed on all lorries used to transport workers, and increasing the minimum deck space per seated worker from the current 4 sq ft to 8 sq ft.
In the meantime, LTA said it will further step up enforcement efforts.
The statement was also a response to the recent spate of accidents involving workers on lorries and the ensuing public outcry.
On Tuesday, three Chinese nationals were killed and 14 others injured when the overloaded lorry they were in skidded and overturned just off the Pan-Island Expressway. A day later, a 24ft lorry carrying 40 workers crashed into a tree in Jurong Port Road, injuring six.
When informed of the LTA's latest stance, Madam Halimah Yacob, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Manpower, said it was a welcome move because the interim measures were 'obviously not working'.
'LTA thinks companies need the time to implement the measures because of costs and so on, hence the three-year deadline. But this goodwill has been abused. There is no such thing as a trade off between workers' lives and cost. In fact, these measures should be implemented immediately,' she added.
Echoing her sentiments, Mr Jolovan Wham, executive director of the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics, said: 'The question is how soon? And how much more time are they are going to give employers to fully comply? Every day that these measures are not in place means increased risk and potential loss of lives for workers.'
But construction companies say that they will need more time.
Mr Kenneth Loo, director of Straits Construction Singapore, said it takes about six months to a year to implement the changes. His company employs about 900 foreign workers and he transports them via buses. He has also just upgraded his 15 lorries in line with LTA's guidelines to the tune of $24,000.
Mr Simon Lee, executive director of the Singapore Contractors Association, says adjusting to new measures includes educating construction companies and changes in transportation practices.
Worker-transport safety rules may come sooner
By Daryl Chin
Straits Times, Jun 26, 2010
Reproduced photo caption: After a recent spate of accidents involving workers on lorries, a public outcry ensued. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERNTHE Land Transport Authority (LTA) is considering bringing forward the implementation of stricter measures to ensure the safety of workers when being transported.
In a statement sent to The Straits Times, it said: 'We are looking into the circumstances of the recent accidents and if necessary, we will consider doing more, including bringing forward the implementation of the remaining measures.'
The remaining measures include higher protective side railings and canopies to be installed on all lorries used to transport workers, and increasing the minimum deck space per seated worker from the current 4 sq ft to 8 sq ft.
In the meantime, LTA said it will further step up enforcement efforts.
The statement was also a response to the recent spate of accidents involving workers on lorries and the ensuing public outcry.
On Tuesday, three Chinese nationals were killed and 14 others injured when the overloaded lorry they were in skidded and overturned just off the Pan-Island Expressway. A day later, a 24ft lorry carrying 40 workers crashed into a tree in Jurong Port Road, injuring six.
When informed of the LTA's latest stance, Madam Halimah Yacob, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Manpower, said it was a welcome move because the interim measures were 'obviously not working'.
'LTA thinks companies need the time to implement the measures because of costs and so on, hence the three-year deadline. But this goodwill has been abused. There is no such thing as a trade off between workers' lives and cost. In fact, these measures should be implemented immediately,' she added.
Echoing her sentiments, Mr Jolovan Wham, executive director of the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics, said: 'The question is how soon? And how much more time are they are going to give employers to fully comply? Every day that these measures are not in place means increased risk and potential loss of lives for workers.'
But construction companies say that they will need more time.
Mr Kenneth Loo, director of Straits Construction Singapore, said it takes about six months to a year to implement the changes. His company employs about 900 foreign workers and he transports them via buses. He has also just upgraded his 15 lorries in line with LTA's guidelines to the tune of $24,000.
Mr Simon Lee, executive director of the Singapore Contractors Association, says adjusting to new measures includes educating construction companies and changes in transportation practices.
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