A Sad Incident in Punggol Central
On the morning of Saturday, October 16th, a 54‑year‑old cleaner was found dead in the central refuse chute compactor room of Block 623C, Punggol Central.
Paramedics from the Singapore Civil Defence Force declared the man deceased at around 8:15 AM on the scene. The police say there is no suspicion of foul play and are treating it as an unnatural death.
Who Was He?
- He worked as a block cleaner for the Pasir Ris‑Punggol Town Council.
- He was employed by Lian Cheng Contracting.
- Only known as “Mr Lee,” he was found wedged between the compactor’s door and the discharge outlet.
Immediate Actions
MOM has stepped in and ordered Lian Cheng to halt any work that requires access to central rubbish chutes, as well as the operation of waste compactors. The Ministry is also conducting its own investigation.
Support for the Family
Town council chairman Sharael Taha was present at the scene, offering comfort to the family and assuring them that the council is working closely with the employer and authorities.
MP Yeo Wan Ling of the Punggol Shore ward also came to help. In a Facebook post, she urged anyone who had seen images of the incident to delete them and to respect the privacy of the family.
Workplace Safety Picture
This tragedy brings Singapore’s total workplace fatalities to 32 for the year. A grim reminder of the risks in the cleaning sector.
For reference, a similar accident in 2016 saw a 37‑year‑old Bangladeshi worker crushed by a waste compactor in Bedok.
