SINGAPORE: The National Environment Agency (NEA) and two of its employees have been charged under the Workplace Safety and Health Act for their involvement in an explosion at Tuas incineration plant in 2021, said the Attourney-General’s Chambers (AGC) and Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Tuesday (Dec 26).
The incident resulted in the death of two workers and injuries to another.
On Sep 23, 2021, at about 12pm, a control room at the incineration plant was unable to remotely switch off an industrial fan. Three NEA officers were sent to troubleshoot the fault.
The three men were in an electrical switch room when the explosion occurred, said AGC and MOM. A 65-year-old senior engineering manager was pronounced dead at the scene. Another NEA officer, an executive engineering manager, died three days later.
The third officer was sent to hospital for burn injuries and was subsequently discharged.
NEA is alleged to have failed to take measures to ensure the safety and health of its employees, such as ensuring that the Permit-to-Work system implemented for high voltage switchgear racking works complied with prevailing regulations, said AGC and MOM.
The charges also allege that NEA failed to adequately implement control measures and establish safe work procedures for high voltage switchgear racking works.
Ng Wah Yong, the general manager of Tuas incineration plant, is alleged to have negligently endangered the safety of others by failing to ensure that the Permit-to-Work system implemented for high voltage switchgear racking works complied with the prevailing regulations, that control measures were adequately implemented, and that safe work procedures for high voltage switchgear racking works were established.
Another NEA employee, Lee Yew Binn, Christopher, is alleged to have negligently endangered the safety of others by approving a Permit-to-Work system for high voltage switchgear racking works that did not comply with the prevailing regulations.
Employers who are found guilty of breaching their duty to take reasonably practicable measures to ensure the safety and health of employees can be fined up to S$500,000 (US$378,000).
A person found guilty of committing a negligent act which endangers the safety and health of others can be jailed up to two years, fined up to S$30,000, or both.