Lift Technician Jailed For Negligence Leading To Construction Worker’s Death

11-12-2023 (SINGAPORE) A lift technician, Wong Ser Yong, 34, from Malaysia, was sentenced to five months in jail on Monday (Dec 11) for negligence that contributed to the death of construction worker Mr Hossain Mohammad Sahid in a lift shaft. Wong pleaded guilty to the charge under the Workplace Safety and Health Act in a Singapore court.

The court heard that Wong, employed by TK Elevator, was tasked with repairing loose panels in the interior of a passenger lift at a seven-storey building on 450 North Bridge Road. TK Elevator had subcontracted the panel repair works to Decor Engineering, a lift contractor registered with the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).

Mr Hossain, 29, a construction worker employed by Decor, was involved in the repair works alongside his colleague. Wong’s role was to provide access and control the positioning of the lift during the repair process.

During the repair on Feb 27, 2021, Wong encountered a faulty “up” button on the lift control box. He failed to follow safety procedures, such as conducting a job hazard analysis, and proceeded with the repair works. When the lift was declared in “Inspection” mode, a miscommunication occurred with Mr Hossain, resulting in the lift ascending automatically.

Tragically, Mr Hossain’s left arm got caught between the lift’s guide rail bracket and the edge of the lift car. Despite rescue efforts by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), Mr Hossain succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The court learned that Wong’s failures included neglecting safety procedures, not being aware of Mr Hossain’s working method, and allowing the repair to proceed despite a faulty button. He also left Mr Hossain alone to work on top of the lift car, a violation of safety requirements.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) prosecutor highlighted that only trained lift technicians should handle lift operations for contractors. Wong admitted that his negligent acts contributed to Mr Hossain’s death.

For the negligent act contributing to a person’s death in the workplace, Wong faced a maximum sentence of two years in jail, a fine of up to S$30,000 (US$22,333), or both. The court’s decision reflects the severity of the lapses that led to the tragic incident.