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27 Feb 2009, 0809106

WSH Alert – Fatal accident:
“2 recent fatal accidents involving workers falling from height”
Incident 1

Two workers had completed their work on a roof, and were carrying out housekeeping when one
of the workers realised that his tool was left near the edge of the roof. He went to retrieve it and
fell over the edge of the roof in the process.

The roof

6.5m

Worker fell to his death.

Diagram 1.1. Worker fell when retrieving

tool left near the edge of the roof.

Incident 2

A worker was on a platform of a concrete batching plant, preparing to install some fittings when
he fell through an unguarded opening in the grille platform and landed on the ground 6m below.

6m
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Diagram 2.1: The worker fell about 6m to the

ground below.

Recommendations*

1. Risk assessment must be carried out before starting any work. Through risk assessment,
employers and workers can identify potential hazards and take appropriate actions to
eliminate the hazards or reduce the risks involved. Control measures and safe work
procedures must be established, communicated and implemented to ensure the safety and
health of the workers involved.

2. It is important for the Management to show commitment and put in place an effective
workplace safety and health management programme. Through this, operations within the
organization would be guided through a safety policy, establishment of a safety management
system and proper work procedures.

3. All open sides which have risk of persons falling must be properly guarded to provide
effective fall protection.

Diagram 2. Example
of guardrails at edge

4. Practice good housekeeping by keeping tools at safe location and in a suitable tool box after
use.

5. Persons working at height with the risk of falling must be provided with suitable personal
protective equipment such as safety harness with lanyard attached to a suitable anchor point.
The workers must be trained in the proper usage and maintenance of such equipment.

6. If travel restrain system is used to prevent the workers from reaching to the edge of the roof
or building, it should only be removed only when all works including housekeeping has been
completed. Workers should not be allowed to work at height at any time without safety
measures in place.

Diagram 3. Travel restraint system

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Further Information

1. Singapore Standard CP 79: 1999 Code of Practice for Safety Management System for
Construction Worksites.

2. Singapore Standard SS 402: Part 1: 1997 – Specification for Industrial Safety Belts and
Harnesses – Part 1: General Requirements.

3. Singapore Standard SS 402: Part 2: 1997 – Specification for Industrial Safety Belts and
Harnesses – Part 2: Permanent Anchors.

4. Risk Assessment Guidelines. Available at:

http://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal/en/communities/workplace_safety_and_health/m
aintaining_a_safe_workplace/occupation_safety/risk_management.html.

5. ProBE Technical Advisory for Working at Height. Available at:

http://app.wshc.gov.sg/cms/Portals/0/Technical%20Advisory%20for%20Working%20At%20
height.pdf

6. Workplace Safety and Health Council, Work at Height Kit. Available at:
http://app.wshc.gov.sg/cms/Publications/WorkingAtHeight/tabid/137/Default.aspx

7. Health Safety Executive (HSE). Working on roofs. Available at:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg284.pdf

*
Please note that the information provided is not exhaustive and for the benefit of enhancing workplace safety and health so that a
similar recurrence may be prevented. The information provided is not to be construed as implying any liability to any party nor should
it be taken to encapsulate all the responsibilities and obligations of the reader of WSH Alert under the law."

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