23.09.2012

Singapore gets tough on crane safety

31 companies have been fined in Singapore in the governments first crack down on poor safety practices during lifting operations.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) caught the offending companies in ‘Operation Hornbill’, the first major enforcement exercise since new regulations regarding crane safety came into force in September last year.

The fines ranged between S$200 ($162) and S$6,200 ($5,000), five companies were also ordered to immediately stop work.

The operation was conducted over a three month period by the ministry’s Occupational Safety & Health Division, covering areas such as the size of the load, communication by the lifting team, as well as ground conditions and obstacles.

The majority of fines related to a failure to maintain the cranes in good working order - including wire ropes - and the absence of proper plans for lifting operations. Many were also caught for using defective lifting gear, as well as using cranes which had not been examined and certified by an authorised examiner.