WSH Alert Accident Advisory, 23 April 2019: Worker caught in between moving

machinery and wall

1 message

WSHC Bulletin <WSHBulletin@wshc.sg> Tue, Apr 23, 2019 at 9:23 PM

If this email does not display correctly, please click HERE.

SUBSCRIBE   GALLERY   RESOURCES   EVENTS      

23 April 2019, Ref: 1920010

Alert Advisory: Worker caught in between moving machinery and wall 

Ref: 1819085 WSH Alert Accident Notification dated 18 February 2019
 
On 17 January 2019 around 8.40am, a worker walking to his work area was caught in between a moving
rail-guided ladle car and the wall along its tracks. The worker was pronounced dead at the scene by
attending paramedics.
 

                        
                                                 Figure 1: Scene of the accident.
 

Recommendations
Caught-in or caught-between accidents occur when a worker’s body part is caught, crushed, squeezed,
compressed or pinched between two or more objects. Persons in control of workplaces that present
such a hazard should consider the following risk control measures to prevent similar accidents:
 
Workplace layout
• Perform a site walkabout to identify work areas that may pose a caught-in or
   caught-between hazard.
• Adjust the workplace layout to ensure that enough space is provided around
   machines or process units to allow for normal operation, adjustments and
   ordinary repairs, and for storage of materials.

For more information on workplace layout, refer to Singapore Standard SS 567: 2011 for Factory Layout
– Safety, Health and Welfare Considerations.
 
Access to work area
• Provide workers with a safe means of access to and egress from their work area.
   In particular, ensure that:
   - passageways between machines, installations (including walls) or piles of
      material should be 60 cm or greater (Ref: SS 567: 2011 Section 2.1.6).; and
   -  for equipment involving use of tracks/rail, an unobstructed passageway
      (on each side of each rail) is maintained parallel to and extended to the entire
      length of the tracks/rail.
 
• If a safe passageway cannot be provided, the access route (e.g. through fencing
   or hoarding) should be closed and signages installed to warn workers of the
   hazard zone.
• Ensure workers are briefed on the danger of being caught in between a moving
   equipment and the surrounding installations should they decide not to use
   the designated access or egress route.
 
Workplace lighting
• Provide adequate lighting along all access routes and at areas where work is to
   be carried out. Adequate lighting will help to raise workers’ situational
   awareness and enable them to better identify workplace hazards.
• Avoid lighting that is too bright to minimise glare and reflection. It is better to
   provide multiple low-strength lights to cover an area, than a single bright light
   source.
• Ensure uniform lighting across the work area. Large contrast in brightness when
   moving from one place to another will put a strain on workers’ eyes (due to
   continual adjustment between bright and dark areas).
 
For more information on workplace lighting, refer to Singapore Standard SS 531-1: 2006 (2013) Code of
Practice for Lighting of Work Places – Indoor and SS 531-2: 2008 (2014) Code of Practice for Lighting of
Work Places – Outdoor.
 
Work supervision
• The supervisor (or appointed representative) should walk around the work area
   to confirm that there is no person or obstruction in the vicinity prior to all
   movement of machine or equipment. This practice should be clearly documented
   in the safe work procedure and emphasized during daily toolbox meetings.
• Work supervision includes supervision of on-site work undertaken by contractors
   and subcontractors. All contractors and subcontractors will need to work closely
   with the occupier to develop site-specific risk assessments and safe work
   procedures for the assigned work activities.
 
Advice for workers
• Be aware of the moving equipment around you and keep a safe distance from
   all moving equipment. Never place yourself between a moving equipment and
   an immovable structure or stack of materials.
• Proceed with the work only if you are trained for the equipment to be used
   and are aware of the hazards of your assigned task so that you can carry out
   your work safely.
 

Risk Assessment
Conduct a thorough Risk Assessment (RA) for all work activities to manage any foreseeable risk that
may arise when moving within or across work sites. The RA should cover, but is not limited, to the
following:
 
• The access route for workers to get to or from their designated work
   location(s).
 • The possibility of workers being caught-in or -between objects along these
   access routes during routine (normal) operation and non-routine (e.g.
   shut-down maintenance) operation.
• Effectiveness of communication to all workers including contractors and
   sub-contractors.
 

Further Information
1. Workplace Safety and Health Act
2. Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations
3. Workplace Safety and Health (General Provisions) Regulations
4. Code of Practice on Workplace Safety and Health Risk Management
5. SS 567: 2011 Code of Practice for Factory Layout – Safety, Health and
    Welfare Considerations
6. SS 531-1: 2006 (2013) Code of Practice for Lighting of Work Places – Indoor 
    SS 531-2: 2008 (2014) Code of Practice for Lighting of Work Places – Outdoor 
    SS 531-3: 2008 (2014) Code of Practice for Lighting of Work Places –
    Lighting Requirements for Safety and Security of Outdoor Work Places
7. Workplace Safety and Health Guidelines on Contractor Management
8. WSH Council’s Toolbox Meeting Kit
 
 
* Information on the accident is based on preliminary investigations by the Ministry of Manpower as at
11 March 2019. This may be subject to change as investigations are still on-going. Please also note that the
recommendations provided here are not exhaustive and they are meant to enhance workplace safety and health so that a
recurrence may be prevented. The information and recommendations provided are not to be construed as implying any
liability on any party nor should it be taken to encapsulate all the responsibilities and obligations under the law.
 

We regret that we are unable to reply to emails at this address. For enquiries or feedback, please email
us at contact@wshc.sg.
 
Visit the WSH Council's website now for updates on WSH-related matters, information and events.
 

This WSH Bulletin is available free of charge, may be printed or downloaded onto electronic, optical or similar storage media provided
that such activities are for private research, study, or in-house use only. If such material is to be copied or reproduced, users are asked to
ensure that the material is reproduced accurately and not in a misleading context, that the status of the material is identified and to
acknowledge Workplace Safety & Health Council, Singapore as the source of the material.

If you wish to update your WSH Bulletin profile, please click here .

If you do not wish to continue receiving the WSH Bulletin by email, please click here to unsubscribe.