30-5-2024 (SINGAPORE) In a tragic turn of events, a second worker has lost his life after inhaling poisonous fumes while carrying out routine tank cleaning at PUB’s Choa Chu Kang Waterworks. The 24-year-old Malaysian, identified as Izzat Naqiuddin Dowod, had been battling for his life in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital since the incident on May 23. Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries on the evening of May 28, leaving his family and loved ones devastated.
In a statement released on May 29, the national water agency PUB expressed its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased worker. The agency also emphasized its commitment to supporting the contractor, Stargroup Est, in providing assistance to Izzat’s family during this difficult period. Desmond Lim, the managing director of Stargroup Est, revealed that the company had covered the hotel accommodation and living expenses for Izzat’s father, enabling him to visit his critically injured son in the hospital.
The tragic incident unfolded on May 23 when three workers were found unconscious at the plant around 11.15 am. Srinivasan Sivaraman, a 40-year-old Indian national employed by Supersonic Maintenance Services, tragically lost his life on the same day. The workers were determined to have collapsed due to the inhalation of hydrogen sulphide gas while draining sludge from one of the plant’s pulsator tanks.
The remaining worker, a 39-year-old Malaysian also employed by Supersonic Maintenance Services, was moved out of the ICU at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital on May 28, and his condition is currently stable.
In response to this devastating incident, PUB has initiated a comprehensive review of safety protocols, with a particular focus on work in confined spaces where the risk of exposure to toxic gases and chemicals is high. The agency has also reinforced the importance of adhering to safety procedures among employees and contract workers.
PUB stated that they have been progressively lifting the safety timeout at worksites and plants where they are satisfied that the necessary and appropriate measures are in place. The agency is cooperating fully with the Ministry of Manpower’s investigation and conducting its own safety investigation into the incident.
The tragedy has left the family of Srinivasan Sivaraman, the first worker who lost his life, grappling with immense grief. According to reports, Sivaraman’s wife and children were in Singapore for a holiday when the fatal incident occurred. His brother-in-law, Mohan Naveenkumar, shared the heartbreaking details of how Sivaraman had planned to visit Gardens by the Bay with his family after work on the day of the incident.
After receiving the devastating news, the family returned to their hometown in Tamil Nadu, India, on May 24. Sivaraman’s daughters, aged seven and nine, have been left questioning their beloved father’s absence, leaving the family struggling to find the words to break the tragic news.
