Representational image. Singapore’s Labour Ministry is considering taking legal action against those involved in a fatal industrial fire that claimed the life of an Indian national in 2022. | Photo Credit: ANI
Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower is considering taking legal action against those involved in a fatal industrial fire that claimed the life of an Indian national in 2022.
Manku Suri Appa Rao, 38, employed with Asia Technical Gas, died on the spot on December 30, 2022 in Tuas after an explosion and subsequent fire caused by accumulation of acetylene in the air.
According to an investigation by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), Manku suffered severe burns over 95 per cent of his body, The Straits Times reported.
According to an expert from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Monday, legal action will be considered pending the assessment.
At the coroner’s inquest, SCDF Major Fong Chun Harn told the court that acetylene was highly flammable and could cause combustion at a concentration of as little as 2.3 per cent in air.
Major Fong said that while Manku was checking the cylinders, his colleague smelled acetylene gas in the air.
“(The colleague) even said he had to turn on two fans, which suggests the ventilation in that area may have been poor. This may have helped acetylene accumulate at the victim’s location,” Major Fong was quoted as saying by the Singapore Daily.
Despite this, MOM occupational safety and health specialist Leslie Lee said no consideration had been given to properly designed exhaust in work areas other than ventilation from fans. There were also no gas detectors installed within the area.
Lee said MOM is considering taking action against those involved in the accident pending legal evaluation. He did not name the parties involved. Both Major Fong and Lee were called as witnesses during the investigation.
According to the website of Asia Technical Gas, the company produces industrial and technical gases, including dissolved acetylene and compressed oxygen.
Lee said that Manku’s job was to check the pressure and remaining acetylene gas in the gas cylinders. He used to do this by loosening the valves of the cylinders.
Investigation revealed that 19 acetylene cylinders had become loose at the time of the explosion, which could have triggered the incident.
Both the MOM occupational safety expert and the SCDF fire investigator said the release of residual acetylene gas likely caused the explosion, and the source of the fire may have been an electrical socket within the workplace.
Lee said investigations showed there was no designated person responsible for electrical checks before the accident and multiple extension sockets were found to be connected to the same power line.
The SCDF chief also said the probable cause of the fire was electrical.
State coroner Adam Nakhoda told the court his findings would be finalised after September 20.
Manku’s death was the 46th workplace fatality in Singapore in 2022, the highest number recorded since 2016 when 66 people died in workplaces in Singapore.