Tighter deadline for safer lorries taken in stride
The following article was published in the Straits Times on 21 July 2010.
Tighter deadline for safer lorries taken in stride
By Maria Almenoar
Straits Times, Jul 21, 2010
Most firms have started retrofitting lorries to better protect workers
MOST companies have already begun retrofitting their fleets of lorries or replacing their old vehicles so that they will comfortably meet the deadline for tightened safety requirements.
Companies which have been using lorries to transport their foreign workers between worksites and their dormitories have, in the past year or so, been fitting their vehicles with higher side rails and canopies.
They had been told last August that they had until September 2012 to install these fittings to prevent their workers from falling off the vehicles and protect them from inclement weather.
But in the light of a continued run of accidents in the last two months in which workers were thrown off lorries, the Government has brought forward the deadline.
Light lorries must now be retrofitted by Feb 1 next year, and heavy lorries by Aug 1 next year.
Since the directive went out last August, companies have started factoring the cost of the retrofitting into their operation costs.
Fitting higher railings and a metal canopy on a 3m-long lorry costs about $1,800.
Lian Beng Construction, which ferries about 100 workers daily, has been sending its 26 lorries for retrofitting.
Its spokesman said: 'Even though the deadline has been pushed forward, we haven't been caught by surprise, since the measures were announced last year.'
The plans only have to be modified a bit, he added.
The Singapore Contractors' Association (Scal), which represents 2,000 construction companies, confirmed that its members were retrofitting their vehicles.
'Some of our members have even switched to transporting their workers using minivans instead of lorries. This shows how Scal members are committed to ensuring the safety of their workers,' said its spokesman.
Migrant worker advocacy groups said the new rules were a step in the right direction but, ideally, buses should be used instead.
And at least one company is already doing just that. Straits Construction now transports its workers in buses similar to those used for tours.
Its director Kenneth Loo said: 'It costs slightly more to ferry workers this way, but it's a small price to pay for peace of mind.'
Tighter deadline for safer lorries taken in stride
By Maria Almenoar
Straits Times, Jul 21, 2010
Most firms have started retrofitting lorries to better protect workers
MOST companies have already begun retrofitting their fleets of lorries or replacing their old vehicles so that they will comfortably meet the deadline for tightened safety requirements.
Companies which have been using lorries to transport their foreign workers between worksites and their dormitories have, in the past year or so, been fitting their vehicles with higher side rails and canopies.
They had been told last August that they had until September 2012 to install these fittings to prevent their workers from falling off the vehicles and protect them from inclement weather.
But in the light of a continued run of accidents in the last two months in which workers were thrown off lorries, the Government has brought forward the deadline.
Light lorries must now be retrofitted by Feb 1 next year, and heavy lorries by Aug 1 next year.
Since the directive went out last August, companies have started factoring the cost of the retrofitting into their operation costs.
Fitting higher railings and a metal canopy on a 3m-long lorry costs about $1,800.
Lian Beng Construction, which ferries about 100 workers daily, has been sending its 26 lorries for retrofitting.
Its spokesman said: 'Even though the deadline has been pushed forward, we haven't been caught by surprise, since the measures were announced last year.'
The plans only have to be modified a bit, he added.
The Singapore Contractors' Association (Scal), which represents 2,000 construction companies, confirmed that its members were retrofitting their vehicles.
'Some of our members have even switched to transporting their workers using minivans instead of lorries. This shows how Scal members are committed to ensuring the safety of their workers,' said its spokesman.
Migrant worker advocacy groups said the new rules were a step in the right direction but, ideally, buses should be used instead.
And at least one company is already doing just that. Straits Construction now transports its workers in buses similar to those used for tours.
Its director Kenneth Loo said: 'It costs slightly more to ferry workers this way, but it's a small price to pay for peace of mind.'
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