A 38-year-old Indian national tragically passed away in a fire at an industrial site in Singapore, marking the 46th workplace fatality of the year, the highest since 2016 in the city-state.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire at the 21 Tuas Avenue 3 site on Friday morning was caused by the uncontrolled release of acetylene, a flammable gas, from cylinders on the premises, as stated by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Saturday.
The identity of the deceased Indian national has not been disclosed.
Additionally, a 43-year-old Chinese national suffered burn injuries and was subsequently taken to Singapore General Hospital.
MOM has directed the employer and occupier of Asia Technical Gas to halt all activities related to the inspection and maintenance of flammable gas cylinders.
Precautions must be taken when handling gas cylinders containing flammable gases to prevent their accumulation and ensure a work environment free from ignition sources, as reported by The Straits Times quoting the Ministry.
The year 2022 has seen the highest number of workplace fatalities since 2016, with a total of 66 deaths.
The Ministry emphasized that the safety of workers should be the top priority for employers, who will be held accountable for any major safety breaches. Penalties may include fines, work stoppage orders, restrictions on foreign manpower, and legal prosecution.
