A company was fined $220,000 by the State Courts today under section 12(1) of the Workplace Safety and Health Act (“WSHA”) for failing to take adequate safety measures for its work in an underground storage tank. On 25 July 2016, four workers were instructed by their supervisor to clean an underground storage tank, a permit-required confined space 3.2m (10.5′) deep, that was accessible only via a ladder at the only manhole open at the time (See Annex A).
After the first entrant entered the PRCS, another worker passed him a floodlight and electrical socket and then joined him underground. One worker, it was his first day on the job, so he stayed above ground to observe and familiarise himself with the job. As the last worker was entering the PRCS, the new worker switched on the socket extension to activate the floodlight. This sparked off an explosion which was strong enough to propel the worker who was climbing down the ladder, out of the space’s entrance. Burnt, he ran and dived into a nearby pool to ease the burning sensations on his body, while other workers assisted the two other entrants to climb out of the confined space. All were all conveyed to the hospital to treat their injuries.
MOM’s Investigation Findings
MOM’s investigations revealed that the company failed to conduct any risk assessment for the work activities related to the cleaning of the space. Critical hazards such as the presence of toxic or flammable gases were not identified nor addressed before the workers entered the space to carry out work.
All four workers were not trained to work within a permit-required confined space. Neither were they informed of the risks involved (e.g. oxygen deficiency/ enrichment, built-up of flammable or toxic gases which could lead to an explosion) and the safety precautions that should have been taken. The company also failed to develop and implement procedures for dealing with emergencies that might arise while its employees were at work in the confined space.
In connection with the same incident, the supervisor was also charged under the WSHA for instructing the workers to perform the cleaning works without ensuring that it was safe for the workers to do so.
