MOM conducts surprise check at Ubi worksite after being alerted to unsafe practices

After receiving videos from a whistle-blower showing workers operating a forklift dangerously at a worksite in Ubi, Ministry of Manpower (MOM) officers conducted a surprise inspection there on Nov 21.

- Nadine Chua

measuring the height of a workshop's mezzanine at the Ubi worksite.

In one video provided by a member of the public, a worker was standing on the narrow edge of a 2.4m-high skid bin used for collecting trash, near a forklift, which could have resulted in him falling and injuring himself.

Workers should use only the forklift to move trash into the bin.

In another video, a worker hopped onto the back of a forklift, with its operator driving off, even though no one should be ferried on it.

On the morning of Nov 21, the media was invited to follow MOM officers for the inspection at 50 Ubi Avenue 3, the same week the ministry received the whistle-blowing report.

Two MOM officers approached a forklift operator, who was wearing the same uniform as the workers in the videos, and asked him to park the forklift before questioning him.

He denied he or any of his colleagues had climbed onto the edge of the skid bin to dispose of trash.

One of the MOM officers said he received feedback that showed otherwise, and asked the worker to lead them to the warehouse.

There, MOM officers discovered other possible workplace safety breaches.