Tragedy at Singapore Shipyard: Two Bangladeshi Workers Lose Their Lives
In a heart‑wrenching turn of events on the night of March 28, two hard‑working Bangladeshi workers met an untimely end after a scaffold collapse at Keppel Shipyard, a subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine, in the Tuas area.
What Went Wrong?
- At around 10 PM, a structural failure caused a portion of a scaffold—used for repairing a vessel in the dock—to be hurled off the ship.
- Both workers (aged 30 and 42) were thrown onto the dock and were pronounced dead on the spot by paramedics.
- The third Bangladeshi worker, 25 years old, managed to cling to the remaining structure and was rescued by the shipyard’s emergency team. He was flown to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital for outpatient treatment.
Who Works Where?
Keppel Shipyard is the occupier of the site and employs the 42‑year‑old worker who lost his life. The other two workers were employed by Veekee Engineering.
Ministry of Manpower’s Take‑away
- MOM is actively investigating the incident and has instructed Keppel Shipyard to halt all work that involves structures on board the vessel.
- “Companies should ensure that temporary work platforms like scaffolds are securely anchored,” the ministry added.
Company’s Response
A spokesperson from Keppel Shipyard expressed deep regret and offered full support to the families affected:
“Our deepest condolences to the families. We value every worker’s life and are working closely with authorities to conduct thorough investigations. As the inquiry proceeds, we cannot share further details.”
The Broader Picture
- This accident brings Singapore’s total workplace fatalities for 2025 to nine.
- Last year’s tally was 37, down from 30 in 2020 and 39 in 2019.
- In 2024, the leading causes of fatalities were vehicular accidents (11), falls from height (8), and fires/explosions (5).
What’s Next?
MOM has announced plans to:
- impose heftier fines on firms that fail to use machinery safely, especially in manufacturing;
- increase surveillance at workplaces with noise hazards and chemical exposures;
- expand safety training for newly hired workers.
For a better future where workers stay safe, it’s time to take this tragedy seriously and rethink safety protocols—and maybe add a few extra ropes on scaffolds next time!
