Music, driving when he lowers container that killed man in 2021

SINGAPORE: A machine operator was listening to music and driving when he lowered a container that crushed a man in 2021.

The inquiry into Mr. Teo Ser Kiong's death took place on Tuesday. He died on Oct 1, 2021, aged 49, after being crushed by a 20-foot container at a construction site at 15 Pioneer Crescent.

Investigators from the police and Ministry of Manpower MOM took the stand to detail their report findings.

The court heard that Mr Teo, who worked for Allied Container Engineers and Manufacturers, was with colleagues, including the machine operator, Mr Arumugam Ganesan.

Mr Teo was holding a stack of papers checking containers for damage when Mr Ganesan, 42, operated the container stacker machine to shift a container.

He picked up the container from the second level and lifted it to the third level before moving to another location.

At the same time, he lowered the container to its intended location.

Mr Teo was standing in front of the machine, and Mr Ganesan continued to drive forward. The machine struck Mr Teo without Mr Ganesan realising.

When he used the machine to place the container on the ground, he realized something was wrong, and he found that the container could not be lowered completely, as if there was an obstruction.

Mr Ganesan lifted the container and checked underneath to see Mr Teo on the floor.

He immediately alerted his supervisor, and the police and Singapore Civil Defence Force were called to the scene.

Mr Teo was found lying face up, and paramedics declared him dead at the scene.

He said he was listening to music at the time of the incident. The music came from a radio on top of the stacking machine, and he was not using his phone.

However, Mr Ganesan admitted that his line of sight was obstructed due to the lowering of the container while he was driving the machine forward.

An autopsy found several injuries, including multiple fractures, in Mr Teo's cause of death.

The police do not suspect foul play in the case.

The court heard that Mr Teo was a very hardworking worker, with no disputes or unhappiness with anyone at work.

According to the investigation officers, Mr Teo was at the location and was a breach of workplace safety procedures.

He should have informed the depot manager that he was going to be present, and obtained authorisation from the manager.

The manager would inform the stacker who was on site to stop operations. After receiving confirmation from the depot manager, Teo was supposed to enter.

When stackers are operating in the yard, no one else should be walking around at the same time, the coroner said.

Mr Ganesan was driving the machine forward and lowering it at the same time, which he was not supposed to do, said the MOM investigator.

The operator's view is to remain clear at all times, and if his view is blocked, there should be no movement by the machine, he said.

When the stacker is being operated vertically, the vehicle should be in a stationary position.

The MOM investigator said the ministry is contemplating taking action against the party involved in the Workplace Safety and Health Act.

He did not say who this party was and declined to say anything when approached after the hearing.

Previous reports state that a 42-year-old man was arrested for a rash act causing death after the incident.

MOM said that Teo was the 30th workplace fatality for the year 2021.

The hearing was attended by Mr Teo's widow, who wiped away tears during the inquiry, as well as Mr Teo's niece.

Findings will be issued at a later date.