From MOM, Dated 14 Mar 2012
1.In Feb 2010, while operating a piling rig to drive a reinforced concrete pile into the
ground, the rig’s upper structure (including the leader assembly) suddenly slewed 180deg.
In the process, the pile was pulled out of the ground. The rig operator was subsequently
found fatally pinned between the backstay support of the piling rig and the pile.
2. Investigation revealed that in the midst of the pile being driven into the ground, the
rig operator left the operator’s cabin without engaging the rig’s swing brake. The piling
rig started to slew on its own due to the slight inclination of the ground. Coupled with
the momentum of the hammer strikes and/or the resultant vibrations, the driven pile
began to tilt and eventually broke into three segments. It was most likely that when the
rig operator realized that the pile was tilting and the rig was slewing, he tried to run back
into the operator’s cabin to stop the piling operation. However, before he could make it
into the cabin, he was caught between the pile and the backstay support of the rig.
3. The swing brake, when engaged, would have prevented the rig from slewing
during piling operations. Piling contractors, whether as employers or as principals to
sub-contractors undertaking the piling works, have a duty to ensure the safety of the
workers performing the work. All piling contractors are advised to alert all piling rig
operators, for example, through tool box meetings, assessment of the permit-to-work,
and training, that they are not to leave their piling rig during operations.
4. Should you need further information, please contact the Ministry at
MOM_OSHD@mom.gov.sg
