The recent chain of worksite accidents which saw four mishaps occurring in the past 11 days is a cause for grave concern. Families of the affected workers also suffer from the pain of losing their loved ones or knowing that their family members have been injured.
Workers' safety and health should never be compromised. And it must be a concerted effort of both the employers and workers to ensure a safe workplace environment for everyone. Employers must ensure that workers practise proper safety procedures and workers must also play their part through identifying risks early and being alert at the worksite.
Thus, I strongly urge employers to carry out comprehensive risk assessments and enforce safety measures, especially in high-risk environments like construction sites. At the same time, I call on workers to look out for each other and spot and report on safety lapses so that corrective actions and not lives, can be taken immediately.
MWC is confident that the employers of the affected workers will discharge their responsibilities to provide their workers with the proper medical help as required by the law. MWC stands ready to provide affected workers with further assistance and care in the case the employer fails to do so.
Yeo Guat Kwang
Director, Workplace Safety and Health (NTUC)
Chairman, Migrant Workers' Centre
