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24 July 2018, Ref: 1819025

Accident Advisory: Worker fell through floor grating

Ref: 1819005 WSH Alert Accident Notification dated 16 May 2018

On 1 May 2018 around 9.50am, whilst a group of workers was preparing to

install railings for openings on the floor of a maintenance grating, one of them
fell through an opening. He fell about 11 metres from the opening and was
pronounced dead at the scene.

Figure 1: Scene of the accident.

Recommendations
Persons in control of similar workplaces and work activities, such as occupiers
and employers, are advised to consider the following risk control measures to
prevent similar accidents:

Protect workers from floor and platform openings:

 Cover any openings through which a person could fall with material of
adequate strength. The cover should be secured to prevent it from being
dislodged. Where appropriate, a warning sign should be affixed onto the
cover or placed nearby to alert workers of the on-site hazard.
 If the opening must be left exposed, to erect a permanent barrier (e.g. a
parapet wall) around the perimeter of the opening.
 For works adjacent to or nearby an opening that cannot be covered to
install temporary edge protection (e.g. guardrails).
Establish a fall prevention plan
• Establish a fall prevention plan (FPP) for work at heights. The FPP should
include:

- a summary of site hazards and their corresponding risk control

measures;
- safe work procedure (SWP) and/or method statement; and
- permit-to-work (PTW) system for work at heights.

Refer to the Code of Practice for Working Safely at Heights for more information
on establishing a FPP.

Facilitate safe work at heights

• Equip workers with personal fall arrest system before work at height is
allowed to commence.
• Ensure selected lifelines are suitable for the task and properly attached to
secure anchor points.
• Provide training and sufficient instructions to workers who are exposed to
the risk of falling (e.g. through an opening on the platform in this case) so
that they are able to perform their work safely.
• Provide suitable working platform for workers so that they can adopt a safe
working position for the task.
• Provide on-site supervision for all work at heights. This is to ensure that
personal fall arrest system is effectively implemented and safe work
procedures are adhered to at all times.
• Remind workers to inform their supervisors if they come across any
unguarded openings and to ensure that these openings are adequately
guarded before any work is allowed in the area.

Risk Assessment
Conduct a thorough Risk Assessment (RA) for all work activities to manage any
foreseeable risk that may arise during work at heights. The RA should cover but
not limited to the following areas:

Work at heights
For all works that involve work at heights, always ensure a FPP is in place and
adequate fall prevention and/or protection measures have been effectively
implemented prior to work commencement.

Working near an opening

To consider how floor or platform openings can be covered or adequately guarded
so that workers will not step into or fall through the openings that are exposed
due to unguarded, unsecured or unidentified openings due to poor illumination or
work site clutter.

Worker health condition

Encourage workers to report to their supervisors if they are under medication,
feeling unwell, or experiencing severe fatigue.
Further information

1. Workplace Safety and Health Act

2. Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations
3. Workplace Safety and Health (General Provisions0 Regulations
4. Workplace Safety and Health (Construction) Regulations 2007
5. Workplace Safety and Health (Work at Heights) Regulations 2013
6. Code of Practice on Workplace Safety and Health Risk Management
7. Code of Practice for Working Safely at Heights
8. WSH Guidelines on Anchorage, Lifelines and Temporary Edge
Protection Systems
9. WSH Guidelines on Personal Protective Equipment for Work at Heights
10. WSH Council’s Work at Heights Toolkit for Supervisors
11. WSH Council’s Case Studies on Accidents Involving Work at Heights
12. 6 Basic Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Rules for Work at Heights
13. WSH Council’s Activity Based Checklist for Working Safely on Heights

* Information on the accident is based on preliminary investigations by the Ministry of Manpower as at

7 May 2018. This may be subject to change as investigations are still on-going. Please note that the
information provided here is not exhaustive and for the benefit of enhancing workplace safety and health so
that a recurrence may be prevented. The information provided is not to be construed as implying any liability
to any party nor should it be taken to encapsulate all the responsibilities and obligations under the law.

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