| Jan 30, 2008 |
| Construction supervisor killed by falling concrete slab in condo |
| By Irene Tham |
| A CONSTRUCTION supervisor was crushed to death on Wednesday when a large concrete slab fell onto him in a condominium at Ardmore Point, which is being demolised. Mr Loh Boon Kee, 49, who had never met any major mishap in his 16 years on the job, died on the spot at about 6 pm. The 25-storey condo, Ardmore Park, which is next to the Shangri-La Hotel, is being demolised to make way for another luxury development. The accident happened when the workers at the site were preparing to go home. When told that an excavator was stuck at the building entrance, Mr Loh went to check. He was inside the buidling when the concrete slab, measuring about four sq metres and weighing about 30 kg, came crashing down on him from the 10th floor, killing him instantly. Mr Goh Eng Hoe, director of Neo and Goh Construction, which is carrying out the demolition work, said the slab had come loose and strong winds caused it to come falling down. Mr Loh's three children - two grown up daughters and son - rushed to the site when told of the accident. Another daughter stayed at home to comfort his wife. They could not go near his body as the area had been cordoned off. His youngest daughter, Miss Loh Hwee Si, 24, said the family was going to have their Chinese New Year reunion dinner on Friday. She added that Mr Loh was planning to take his wife, a homemaker, to Hawaii for a holiday soon. 'He was a doting father and did not believe in early retirement. He said he would go senile if he stopped work,' said a distraught Miss Loh. |
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Man crushed by falling concrete slab at condo site
Tragic start to school's first swim programme
FAMILY BIDS FAREWELL: Danial's body being carried into his grandfather's flat for prayers yesterday. On Monday, the teen was found face down in the pool by an instructor an hour into the lesson. His mother wants to know what exactly happened to the eldest of her four children. -- ST PHOTO: LIM CHIN PING
Jan 30, 2008
Student's drowning happened despite adherence to safety guidelines
By Tessa Wong & Carolyn Quek
FOR New Town Secondary, the drowning of Danial Syawal Jailani, 12, was a terrible start to its swimming programme.
It was the first year the school decided that its Secondary 1 students should have swimming lessons during physical education classes, a programme being promoted by the National Water Safety Council to stem the rise in the number of drowning incidents.
It was Danial's third lesson at the Clementi Swimming Complex.
It is unclear how he drowned. His parents said he was a strong swimmer, whom they often took to public pools and to the beach.
Classmates agree that he was no novice.
Janice Sie, 12, said: 'Danial was in the group which knew how to swim, but didn't know how to do proper strokes.'
During Monday's lesson, Danial's group was practising the butterfly and learning the backstroke.
But Danial, who developed a reputation as the class clown, would sometimes horse around, even doing somersaults in the water, she added.
School principal Neo Lay Wah would only say that the students numbered 58 in all and were accompanied by four PE teachers as well as swimming instructors registered with the Singapore Sports Council.
Students said there were three instructors, and each had about 18 to 20 students in his charge.
This ratio is in accordance with the Education Ministry's swimming safety guidelines, according to a teacher from another school who declined to be named.
Students confirmed that other protocols were followed, such as safety briefings on who should stay out of the water. Those who felt unwell were exempted from the lesson.
Danial's death certificate stated that he died of drowning and asphyxiation.
The 1.42m boy was found face down in the 0.9m pool by an instructor an hour into the lesson at about 1.40pm.
It appeared that a classmate, seeing him afloat, thought he was playing the fool. He sounded the alarm when Danial did not respond to his nudges.
The instructors carried Danial to the lifeguards' room and tried to resuscitate him before calling an ambulance which took him to the National University Hospital.
He was declared dead two hours later and buried at the Choa Chu Kang Muslim cemetery yesterday.
His mother, housewife Rozni Jumaat, 35, wants to know what exactly happened to the eldest of her four children. 'A classmate told us he fell.''
But there were no visible injuries on him, except for a small circular cut on his left foot.
Madam Neo did not answer queries on this.
When The Straits Times visited the pool yesterday, there were five lifeguards on patrol. They declined to comment.
A spokesman for the Singapore Sports Council said that lifeguards are always present during operating hours.
Meanwhile, the Education Ministry said it does not keep track of the number of secondary schools with swimming programmes, as these are often school-initiated and conducted as enrichment activities.
Students who were present at the time of the incident were counselled by the school's counsellors and teachers.
Madam Rozni said the family had been planning to go to the beach during the Chinese New Year holidays.
'But now it will never happen,' she said.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
12 workers and driver hurt in bus-lorry crash
Jan 24, 2008
TWELVE workers and a bus driver were injured last night after their bus slammed into a lorry in Ang Mo Kio, hurling them from their seats.
At least four of the workers - mostly women heading for the night shift in a nearby Motorola factory - were seriously injured, said police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force.
They were taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH). Their conditions are not known.
Eight other workers had minor injuries in the crash, which happened just before 6pm. They were also ferried to the hospital, but later discharged.
Said Madam Umi Kasum, who was one of the injured: 'I was chatting with my colleagues when suddenly there was a bang and everyone was flung forward.
'One woman was bleeding from the head and others had cuts near their mouths and noses. I was stunned and so worried.'
The crash is the second accident in a week involving workers who were on their way to work.
Five lorries were in two separate collisions within seconds of each other along Pioneer Road last Thursday, injuring 53 foreign workers.
Yesterday, the workers were riding in a private 45-seat bus when it collided with a lorry at the intersection of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 and Avenue 6.
The driver of the lorry, Mr Tan Boong Tiam, 49, said he was turning right into Avenue 6 when the crash happened.
'In front of me was another car. I saw the arrow then I turned,' he said in Mandarin.
When he saw the oncoming bus, he said he tried to accelerate to get out of the way. He did not make it, but managed to escape unhurt.
Meanwhile, the driver of the bus said he was driving along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 and travelling under the speed limit.
'It happened so fast,' said the man, who wanted to be known only as Mr Lim. 'All I could do was slam on my brakes. If I had not steered slightly to the right, I would have been more seriously hurt.'
Many passengers seemed to have cut their faces on the handle bars of the seats, said Mr Lim who was treated for minor injuries.
Witness Diane Goh, 35, was about to cross the junction when she heard a bang. She looked up and saw the crash metres away from her.
The teacher, who is trained in first aid, rushed over to the bus when she saw the shocked and hurt workers trying to get off the vehicle.
'Some were crying and others wanted to vomit. I helped them over to a grass verge,' she said. 'I was upset because there were so many people hurt and they were just metres away from me.'
Mr Samy Velu, 51, rushed to TTSH when his wife's friend called him about the accident.
'At first I panicked. But now that I have seen her, I feel better that it was not a major injury,' he said.
His wife Jothi Samy, 49, had a gash on her cheek.
A Motorola spokesman confirmed that the company's workers were involved and said eight have already been discharged.
The workers were mainly women in their 30s and 40s, said a witness.
Police are investigating.
SERIOUS DAMAGE: The bus carrying Motorola workers slammed into a lorry at the junction of Ave 3 and Ave 6. Looking at the damage is lorry driver Tan Boong Tiam.
TO THE RESCUE: Many of those who were hurt, including Madam Jothi Samy (above), seemed to have smashed their faces on the handle bars of the bus seats.
TO THE RESCUE: Many of those who were hurt seemed to have smashed their faces on the handle bars of the bus seats.
TWELVE workers and a bus driver were injured last night after their bus slammed into a lorry in Ang Mo Kio, hurling them from their seats.
At least four of the workers - mostly women heading for the night shift in a nearby Motorola factory - were seriously injured, said police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force.
They were taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH). Their conditions are not known.
Eight other workers had minor injuries in the crash, which happened just before 6pm. They were also ferried to the hospital, but later discharged.
Said Madam Umi Kasum, who was one of the injured: 'I was chatting with my colleagues when suddenly there was a bang and everyone was flung forward.
'One woman was bleeding from the head and others had cuts near their mouths and noses. I was stunned and so worried.'
The crash is the second accident in a week involving workers who were on their way to work.
Five lorries were in two separate collisions within seconds of each other along Pioneer Road last Thursday, injuring 53 foreign workers.
Yesterday, the workers were riding in a private 45-seat bus when it collided with a lorry at the intersection of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 and Avenue 6.
The driver of the lorry, Mr Tan Boong Tiam, 49, said he was turning right into Avenue 6 when the crash happened.
'In front of me was another car. I saw the arrow then I turned,' he said in Mandarin.
When he saw the oncoming bus, he said he tried to accelerate to get out of the way. He did not make it, but managed to escape unhurt.
Meanwhile, the driver of the bus said he was driving along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 and travelling under the speed limit.
'It happened so fast,' said the man, who wanted to be known only as Mr Lim. 'All I could do was slam on my brakes. If I had not steered slightly to the right, I would have been more seriously hurt.'
Many passengers seemed to have cut their faces on the handle bars of the seats, said Mr Lim who was treated for minor injuries.
Witness Diane Goh, 35, was about to cross the junction when she heard a bang. She looked up and saw the crash metres away from her.
The teacher, who is trained in first aid, rushed over to the bus when she saw the shocked and hurt workers trying to get off the vehicle.
'Some were crying and others wanted to vomit. I helped them over to a grass verge,' she said. 'I was upset because there were so many people hurt and they were just metres away from me.'
Mr Samy Velu, 51, rushed to TTSH when his wife's friend called him about the accident.
'At first I panicked. But now that I have seen her, I feel better that it was not a major injury,' he said.
His wife Jothi Samy, 49, had a gash on her cheek.
A Motorola spokesman confirmed that the company's workers were involved and said eight have already been discharged.
The workers were mainly women in their 30s and 40s, said a witness.
Police are investigating.
SERIOUS DAMAGE: The bus carrying Motorola workers slammed into a lorry at the junction of Ave 3 and Ave 6. Looking at the damage is lorry driver Tan Boong Tiam.
TO THE RESCUE: Many of those who were hurt, including Madam Jothi Samy (above), seemed to have smashed their faces on the handle bars of the bus seats.
TO THE RESCUE: Many of those who were hurt seemed to have smashed their faces on the handle bars of the bus seats.
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