The following article was published in the Straits Times on 22 June 2010.
2 trapped in lorry accident
By Linette Lai
The Straits Times
Jun 22, 2010
A COLLISION between two lorries along the Bukit Timah Expressway on Tuesday morning trapped one of the drivers and his passenger in the cabin of their vehicle.
Officers from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) rescued the trapped men from the cabin using hydraulic tools. Both were conscious but suffered minor injuries and were sent to the National University Hospital.
Three cars and another lorry were also involved in two seperate accidents close to the Mandai Road exit on the opposite side of the expressway on Tuesday.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
3 killed in lorry accident along PIE
The following article was published in TODAY on 22 June 2010.
3 killed in lorry accident along PIE
By Sona Remesh
TODAY
SINGAPORE: Three men were killed after a lorry overturned along the Pan Island Expressway on Tuesday morning. This was one of three separate accidents involving lorries.
At around 7.30 a.m., a Toyota Dyna lorry crashed into the metal railings of a divider near the Thomson Road exit of the Pan Island Expressway.
Two passengers died on the spot.
15 others were rushed to Tan Tock Seng hospital where a third victim died some four hours later.
All the passengers are Chinese nationals from Crec Construction Corporation.
Six workers remain warded in hospital.
Others were luckier.
The accident partially closed the slip road separating Thomson Road from the PIE causing a massive rush hour traffic jam.
It also brings to light safety standards for lorries.
The label on the back of the wrecked lorry showed a maximum of 13 workers allowed.
But at least 17 were present at the time of the incident.
In a separate accident, two workers were trapped when two lorries collided along the Bukit Timah Expressway.
Civil defence officers had to use hydraulic tools to free them. - CNA/vm
3 killed in lorry accident along PIE
By Sona Remesh
TODAY
SINGAPORE: Three men were killed after a lorry overturned along the Pan Island Expressway on Tuesday morning. This was one of three separate accidents involving lorries.
At around 7.30 a.m., a Toyota Dyna lorry crashed into the metal railings of a divider near the Thomson Road exit of the Pan Island Expressway.
Two passengers died on the spot.
15 others were rushed to Tan Tock Seng hospital where a third victim died some four hours later.
All the passengers are Chinese nationals from Crec Construction Corporation.
Six workers remain warded in hospital.
Others were luckier.
The accident partially closed the slip road separating Thomson Road from the PIE causing a massive rush hour traffic jam.
It also brings to light safety standards for lorries.
The label on the back of the wrecked lorry showed a maximum of 13 workers allowed.
But at least 17 were present at the time of the incident.
In a separate accident, two workers were trapped when two lorries collided along the Bukit Timah Expressway.
Civil defence officers had to use hydraulic tools to free them. - CNA/vm
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Most lorries follow rules
The following story was published in the Straits Times on Sep 2, 2009
MOST LORRIES FOLLOW RULES
Workers in 49 cases are seated higher than the side railings of lorries
By Teh Joo Lin & Wendy Hui
Seated too high from the cargo deck? In many lorries, the workers were seated too high - higher than the side railings, the side boards or even the roof of the front cabin. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
COMPANIES transporting their workers on the back of lorries seem to be following the stricter rules which kicked in on Tuesday.
Four in five of 215 lorries observed over 30 minutes from 7.30am had workers seated on the floor of the cargo decks or on low planks, which reduced the risk of their being flung out in a collision.
These lorries were plying the Bukit Timah Expressway near the Rifle Range flyover and the Pan Island Expressway outside Catholic Junior College during the morning rush hour.
But The Straits Times counted 49 suspicious cases. In many, the workers were seated too high - higher than the side railings, the side boards or even the roof of the front cabin.
They were perched on metal crates, plastic chairs or work equipment, and looked to be seated more than 1.1m from the cargo deck. This could result in a fine of $200.
The height limit is one rule which took effect on Tuesday. The changes aimed at improving the safety of workers riding on the back of lorries were unveiled two weeks ago, following public discussion and government deliberation.
Another new rule requires passenger cabins to be filled up before workers can occupy the cargo decks. Heavier fines have also been put in place for breaching pre-existing rules, such as ferrying more workers than is allowed. The carrying capacity of each lorry is derived by allotting 0.372 sq m of space to each worker. Those who flout this rule may be fined $500, up from $200 in the past.
Along with the tighter rules and higher fines has come stringent enforcement. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) did not disclose the number of summonses issued on Tuesday, but its spokesman confirmed that enforcement was being stepped up.
She added that employers should take these measures seriously, and that the drivers of these lorries should look out for their charges.
Anyone who spots workers being ferried in a dangerous manner can call the LTA hotline on 1800-CALL-LTA.
This story is an abridged version of the full story published in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times
joolin@sph.com.sg
wendyhui@sph.com.sg
MOST LORRIES FOLLOW RULES
Workers in 49 cases are seated higher than the side railings of lorries
By Teh Joo Lin & Wendy Hui
Seated too high from the cargo deck? In many lorries, the workers were seated too high - higher than the side railings, the side boards or even the roof of the front cabin. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
COMPANIES transporting their workers on the back of lorries seem to be following the stricter rules which kicked in on Tuesday.
Four in five of 215 lorries observed over 30 minutes from 7.30am had workers seated on the floor of the cargo decks or on low planks, which reduced the risk of their being flung out in a collision.
These lorries were plying the Bukit Timah Expressway near the Rifle Range flyover and the Pan Island Expressway outside Catholic Junior College during the morning rush hour.
But The Straits Times counted 49 suspicious cases. In many, the workers were seated too high - higher than the side railings, the side boards or even the roof of the front cabin.
They were perched on metal crates, plastic chairs or work equipment, and looked to be seated more than 1.1m from the cargo deck. This could result in a fine of $200.
The height limit is one rule which took effect on Tuesday. The changes aimed at improving the safety of workers riding on the back of lorries were unveiled two weeks ago, following public discussion and government deliberation.
Another new rule requires passenger cabins to be filled up before workers can occupy the cargo decks. Heavier fines have also been put in place for breaching pre-existing rules, such as ferrying more workers than is allowed. The carrying capacity of each lorry is derived by allotting 0.372 sq m of space to each worker. Those who flout this rule may be fined $500, up from $200 in the past.
Along with the tighter rules and higher fines has come stringent enforcement. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) did not disclose the number of summonses issued on Tuesday, but its spokesman confirmed that enforcement was being stepped up.
She added that employers should take these measures seriously, and that the drivers of these lorries should look out for their charges.
Anyone who spots workers being ferried in a dangerous manner can call the LTA hotline on 1800-CALL-LTA.
This story is an abridged version of the full story published in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times
joolin@sph.com.sg
wendyhui@sph.com.sg
Friday, August 28, 2009
Safer to ferry workers in buses
The following letter was published in ST Forum online on 28 August 2009.
SAFER TO FERRY WORKERS IN BUSES
I welcome the Government's initiative to give more protection to workers ferried on lorries.
It is a step forward. However, it may still not be enough. Lorries are for transporting goods, not people.
As a general surgeon in a public hospital, I have seen many cases of lorry passengers suffering serious injuries in traffic accidents.
We emphasise the use of safety devices such as seat belts and airbags in cars, and it is obvious that none of these features is available at the back of a lorry.
To ensure the safety of their workers, contractors can instead hire buses from private operators to ferry their workers to and from worksites.
In my travels around the world, I have not witnessed transportation of workers in the back of lorries in developed countries.
The speed limit of 60kmh for lorries is a good safety measure. However, many lorry drivers do not comply with the rule.
Enforcement and public education are essential. We need to educate the public, especially the drivers, on the consequences of speeding - that it not only causes the loss of a life, but also threatens the livelihood of a victim's family who depends on him.
Dr So Bok-Yan
URL: http://www.straitstimes.com/ST+Forum/Online+Story/STIStory_422156.html
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Matching up to First World safety standards
The following letter was published in TODAY on 25 August 2009.
Matching up to First World safety standards
by From F Bushfield
I WAS in a foreign country last month. I noticed that their construction workers were transported by vans and other passenger vehicles.
I said to a local colleague: "Why not follow Singapore's model of transporting these workers in the back of a lorry ... it is cheaper and the company does not need to have separate vehicles for goods and workers." He said it is illegal to do so. The country I was in is China. Is it okay for Singaporeans to have a lower standard than China? Where is the benchmarking we Singaporeans are so proud of?
URL:
Let's walk the talk
The following letter was published in TODAY on 25 August 2009.
Let's walk the talk
Let foreign workers take public transport
by From Woon Kok Keoong
SINGAPOREANS are a tough bunch of people to please. I have no qualms about foreign paying workers being transported in buses and paying higher prices for my renovations, but would the majority of the population agree to it? The next option would be to let these workers take public buses or the MRT, and I'm sure this is going to create a huge uproar like the Serangoon Gardens dorm issue. People want humanity, yet refuse to pay a price for it or even share public space with these workers.
URL: http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC090825-0000039/Lets-walk-the-talk
Monday, August 24, 2009
Why the double standards when it comes to foreign workers?
The following letter was published in ST Forum online on 24 August 2009.
Why the double standards when it comes to foreign workers?
I REFER to last Thursday's letter by Ms Isabel Vadivu Govind, 'Safer? Workers shouldn't be on lorries at all'.
I have always been baffled by the fact that passengers in enclosed private cars are required by law to put on seat belts, but workers are allowed to travel in open lorries and pick-up trucks. Many accidents and deaths involving foreign workers transported this way have occurred over the years.
Higher cost has been cited by both employers and the Government as the main reason a safer arrangement cannot be provided. I cannot understand the logic of comparing human life with economic costs.
When a life is lost, it is lost forever and no amount of money can bring it back. Would we have accepted the argument if those dead were Singaporeans? Would we not have asked (or demanded) safer protection for workers on the road?
Every one of those lives lost is someone's father or son or brother or husband. If we can make seat belts compulsory for all car passengers, we should expect equivalent safety measures for foreign workers who have come all the way here at considerable expense to earn a living and help us build our nation.
Tan Thiam Soon
URL:http://www.straitstimes.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)