2nd death at Sentosa IR

It was the second industrial death at the Resorts World site in Sentosa since work began about two years ago. — ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN

A 300-KG metal pipe came crashing down on the head of a foreign worker at the Resorts World worksite at Sentosa on Saturday, killing him instantly.

It is believed that Mr Annamalai Chandramani was taking a break from work when the pipe, which was being moved above him, fell right onto him.

Mr Annamalai, 33, suffered multiple fractures to his neck and was pinned under the heavy pipe.

A 30-year-old worker, who was at the scene, told The Straits Times there was ‘a lot of blood’.

It was the second industrial death at the Resorts World site in Sentosa since work began about two years ago. Just last month, another foreign worker was found dead of head injuries sustained when he fell from a height of about 4.5 metres.

Two months ago, construction firm Lian Beng Construction was fined $100,000 for a safety lapse at the other integrated resorts, Marina Bay Sands. In January last year, a worker died after a brick wall on the worksite collapsed on him.

The latest IR death comes amidst a drive by the Government to shore up safety at worksites. In 2007 and last year, 130 workers died on-site, with more than half of them from the construction and marine industries.

About 20 of Mr Annamalai’s friends and colleagues were at the mortuary on Sunday as their manager identified his body. They said he was a ‘very nice and good’ person.

Mr Annamalai came to Singapore six years ago from Pondicherry in India. He is married with two young childredn, age four and seven.

Resorts World said the accident would not delay the completion of the integrated resort as no stop-work order had been issued so far.

Read the full story in Monday’s edition of The Straits Times.

Source : Straits Times – 9 August 2009