He said investigations into workplace incidents uncovered a “general lack of ownership and emphasis on workplace safety”.
“Basic control measures are not in place as we have witnessed at this worksite today,” he said.
At the worksite for 35 Gilstead, a 70-unit condominium development near Newton MRT, MOM officers pointed out several lapses to reporters, including staircases with no hand railings and lift shafts that were not blocked off.
Barricades to prevent workers from falling off the building were also missing in some spots, and there were housekeeping breaches such as planks left on the ground or on scaffolding platforms that pose a slip, trip or fall risk to workers, MOM said.
Reporters also saw an unsecured ladder, nails protruding from work materials lying on the ground, as well as uncovered starter bars protruding from the floor, which can cause injury if workers fall into them.