Soil Compactor Safety Fatality File

Worker killed in accident involving soil compactor at Changi East worksite

SINGAPORE – A migrant worker died last Thursday (Nov 18) after an accident at a worksite for the upcoming Changi East project, which includes the construction of Changi Airport Terminal 5 (T5) and a third runway for the airport.

The fatal accident took place in Tanah Merah Coast Road, and the police were alerted at 8.05pm.

With last week’s accident, there have been at least 34 workplace deaths this year, compared with 30 deaths in 2020 and 39 deaths in 2019.

The worker, an Indian national, was operating a vibratory roller, which is used to compact soil, when the machine toppled and trapped him in the cabin.

The 43-year-old was employed by INA Heavy Machinery and Equipment, which uses vibratory rollers that weigh about 10 tonnes, according to the company’s website.

The pinned worker was pulled out from under the machine by colleagues.