An investigation into the deaths of two SMRT trainee staff members on March 22 has found that the incident could have been avoided if safety measures had been put in place.

In a statement, the rail operator said that before a work team is allowed onto the track, a speed limit must be set to ensure that no train enters the track and watchmen must be deployed to look out for approaching trains and provide early warning to the work team.

SMRT said that an accident review panel formed determined that this “vital safety protection measure was not applied and that the effectiveness of such protection before entry into the work site was no ensure as required under existing procedure”. 

This directly caused the accident which led to the deaths of Nasrulhudin Najumudin, 22, and Muhammad Asyraf Ahmad Buhari, 24, who were part of a 15-man team who went down to the track to investigate a reported alarm from a conditioning monitoring device for signalling equipment.

The incident, which took place near Pasir Ris MRT station led to the suspension of trains services on the East-West Line between Tanah Merah and Pasir Ris stations for more than two hours.

Explaining what happened that day, SMRT said that the 15-man joint engineering team was tasked to examine the device which had earlier registered a warning of a possible fault that could affect train services.

Engineering staff are authorised to access the track to investigate fault, on average, about two to three times a day on the North-South and East-West Lines, said SMRT.

As the men made their way towards the device in a single file along the maintenance walkway, they stepped onto the track – led by their supervisor – before the safety measures could be implemented.

SMRT said: “The supervisor narrowly avoided being by the oncoming train, but Nasrulhudin and Muhammad Asyraf, who were second and third in line, were unable to react in time.”

The statement said: “SMRT deeply regrets that the failure to apply a vital safety procedure led to the tragic accident.”

Other factors which been identified for improvement include track access management controls, communication protocols and track vigilance by various parties. Aside from taking immediate steps to strengthen its procedures and supervision, SMRT said it is comprehensively reviewing all its safety structures, processes and compliance issues.

sujint@sph.com.sg

个人在现有私人综合健保计划下受保的病症，可能因决定”降级”至划一综合健保计划时，选择更换投保公司，而无法继续受保。

卫生部兼通讯及新闻部政务部长徐芳达，昨天出席在大巴窑建屋局中心举行的终身健保讲解活动时吁有意”降级”的公众务必仔细考虑。

活动爆满嘉宾纷让座

由新加坡报业控股华文媒体集团推出的第二系列终身健保讲解活动，昨天举行第八场讲解会。徐芳达是活动主宾，他也是碧山－大巴窑集选区基层组织顾问。

长达两小时的讲解活动吸引了超过1000名公众出席，是举办第二系列终身健保讲解活动以来，出席人数最多的一次。活动还没正式开始，整个场地便已爆满，以致活动主宾与其他嘉宾到场后都纷纷将前排座位让给现场的年长者。

多数前来聆听的公众都是大巴窑一带的居民，也有一些公众特地从其他地区如后港赶来出席活动，希望能进一步了解终身健保的同时，也助他们解答一些疑惑。 一名已投保私人综合健保计划（Integrated Shield Plan，简称IP）的公众就向徐芳达提出询问，倘若有一天她觉得自己已无法支付IP的保费，决定”降级”至上月新推出的划一综合健保计划（Standard Integrated Shield Plan，简称Standard IP）时，那她现有的一些疾病是否还能继续受保？

对此，徐芳达解释：”如果公众’降级’时没有更换私人保险公司，那之前患有的一些疾病仍能继续受保，保险公司不能说不再保你，他不能这么做。”

但若公众决定更换保险公司，那之前在IP下受保的疾病将不能继续受保。

徐芳达提醒公众：”在决定降级时，若想更换保险公司的话，一定要小心一些，将这一（条款）考虑在内。” 从5月1日起生效的Standard IP是一项能涵盖公共医院B1级病房医疗费，且国人较能负担得起的保险计划。

终身健保计划则是在去年11月推行。推出之后，许多已购买私人医疗保险的国人纷纷开始思考，是否应停止投保IP或其他医疗保险，只依赖终身健保照顾他们的住院医疗开销。类似问题再次成为昨天讲解会上较多人提出的问题。

徐芳达在活动上多次强调，公众须先了解自己所购买的IP与其他医疗保险的细节，再根据自己的需求、现在与未来的负担能力等来决定是否还要继续投保。

公众可为直系亲属支付保费

也有多名公众提出询问，希望能了解若年长者或尚未工作的孩子的保健储蓄没有足够存款支付保费的话，该如何是好。 徐芳达解释，公众其实可为直系亲属支付保费。这里所指的直系亲属包括夫妻、孩子与父母。

由《联合早报》《联合晚报》《新明日报》和UFM100.3联办的讲解活动共15期，每期在不同社区举行，让公众了解这项新计划的细节，并针对自己的情况发问。

yuanyi@sph.com.sg

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SINGAPORE – A construction worker was spotted squatting on a wet pavement to eat his lunch because he did not want to dirty a bench at a bus stop.

The incident, which occurred on Saturday (April 23), was recorded by Facebook user Iko Pai Kia.

The user reportedly saw the construction worker squatting to eat on a pavement that was wet because of the heavy rain that had just stopped, and had asked him why did he not want to sit on the bench to have his lunch.

The worker had replied: “No abang (brother in Malay), I don’t want to dirty the seat”. 

Touched by this, Iko Pai Kia ended his post by praising the worker for having “such high regards for others even though it’s at the expense of his own comfort”. 

Foreign workers hurt at some Singaporeans’ dislike of them

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YouTube screengrabs

This incident comes on the heels of Wisma Atria shopping mall banning construction workers from using its public toilets.

According to The Straits Times, the mall also “threatened (construction workers) with fines and expulsion if they disobey” these rules, which were stated on signs “outside the men’s toilets on five floors”.

S’pore kids visit foreign workers with games, food and gifts

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Facebook video screengrabs

Workers are only allowed to use the toilet located on the fifth storey, at the carpark.

A spokesperson for YTK Starhill Global Reit, the company that manages Wisma said that these rules have been in effect since 2011.

Singaporean uncle’s kind act towards foreign labourers in train goes viral

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The Straits Times

prabukm@sph.com.sg

THE MAN and his pregnant wife who lived on a lorry have moved into a rental flat and are so elated about having a place to call home they say it was like striking the lottery.

My Paper and Chinese daily Lianhe Wanbao reported early last month on the plight of 44-year-old delivery man Wang Baohua, who lived like a nomad with his Vietnamese wife on a lorry.

The pair parked at Changi Beach Park at night and did their laundry and cooking on the back of the vehicle, washing up at a nearby public toilet.

He had tried applying for a two-room or rental flat from the Housing Board but was previously rejected as his spouse is a foreigner and his $1,900 salary does not fit the rental-flat requirements.

After the reports came out, the couple received numerous offers of help from readers, who popped by the Changi Beach Park with offers of food and even money, which they are grateful and moved by, Wanbao reported yesterday.

The pair were also aided by the HDB and moved into a two-room rental flat at Bedok North on Thursday.

When Wanbao visited their new home, they were sitting in the living room chatting.

Mr Wang said that although the flat was empty, they were very content and would settle the furniture matters later.

He shared that the monthly rent for the flat was $400.

When the couple moved in on Thursday afternoon, they scrubbed the floors with detergent before moving what little furniture they had on their lorry into their new home.

Mr Wang has also bought some items, including a mattress, a laundry rack and poles.

His wife was overjoyed and said she was so excited the night before moving in that she could not sleep.

She told her husband that their turn of good fortune had finally come.

The contract for their flat entitles them to only a year’s rent.

However, Mr Wang said they are not thinking that far into the future yet and instead wants to focus on helping his wife have a peaceful birth.

She is due in August, after which they may try applying for a Build-To-Order (BTO) flat.

“This experience really moved me and let me see how warm people can be,” said Mr Wang.

myp@sph.com.sg

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RECOMMENDATIONS to boost the use of bicycles and personal mobility devices (PMDs) here, including allowing them on footpaths, have been greeted with positive public feedback, said the head of the expert panel behind the ideas.

The Active Mobility Advisory Panel is also “heartened” that their recommendations were fully accepted by the Government two weeks ago, said its chairman Faishal Ibrahim, who is also parliamentary secretary for Education as well as Social and Family Development.

“Many people have shared with me that they find that the rules and code of conduct we proposed are practical, fair and, most importantly, account for the safety of all the different road users… they feel that it is clearer now as there is something that they can follow and abide to,” he added.

He was speaking at the launch of the Safe Riders Campaign, the first public education drive since the new rules were accepted. It aims to get pedestrians, cyclists and PMD users to share walkways in a considerate and safe manner.

The panel had also prescribed speed limits on foot and cycling paths, and registration for power-assisted bicycles to clamp down on illegal modifications.

The rules are expected to be implemented by year end.

While there is a need for “strong enforcement” to deter errant riders, it is more important to develop a safe riding culture, said Dr Faishal at the launch of the campaign at the National Gallery.

Separately, the first PMD carnival was also held yesterday at Tanah Merah ferry terminal. Visitors were allowed to try out different brands and models of mobility devices at the 12,000 sq m site.

Chairman of interest group Big Wheel Scooters Singapore Denis Koh said he expects more PMD users in the coming years. “But that doesn’t mean there may be more accidents on the paths because I believe LTA is working out details on how to get retail shops to electronically and permanently cap the speed on such devices.”

Speed limits on footpaths are 15kmh and 25kmh on cycling and shared paths.

Last year, 17 cyclists or their pillion riders were killed in accidents, up from 15 each in 2014 and 2013. There were also 590 cyclists injured in accidents last year, a 17 per cent jump from 503 in 2014.

Francis Chu, co-founder of Love Cycling SG, said some footpaths are too small and congested. “The paths should be broadened in high density areas,” he added.

jantai@sph.com.sg

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MARINE Parade Polyclinic, which closed for renovation in May last year, will officially reopen on May 18 with expanded facilities plus a 24/7 prescription pick-up service in the works.

The previous infrastructure of the polyclinic, which opened in 1977 and was last renovated in late 2008, “posed challenges in catering to the health needs of our ageing population”, Agnes Koong Ying Leng, clinic director of SingHealth Polyclinics Marine Parade, told My Paper.

After the revamp, the polyclinic has now doubled in size and has more registration counters, consultation rooms and more space for waiting areas.

A new medication pick-up service, called Pilbox, where patients or their caregivers can collect their prescription refills around the clock, is also being piloted.

Patients were previously referred to nearby polyclinics for x-rays but these can now be done in-house.

The frequency of other services such as pap smears and family planning counselling has been increased.

Chia Kim Hua, a patient at the polyclinic, said the new layout is “well-planned”.

“It is very spacious after the redevelopment, especially near the entrance at level 1,” he added.

Elsewhere, Punggol residents can look forward to the upcoming Punggol Polyclinic in Oasis Terraces, next to Oasis LRT station.

“The age-friendly clinic will be equipped with lifts and low ramps for wheelchair and pram access,” said a SingHealth spokesman.

The new polyclinic will have special services such as physiotherapy and podiatry. Punggol Polyclinic will also “house larger modules for dental, women and children’s health services to cater to the needs of the community”.

Over at Bedok Polyclinic, new features are in the pipeline.

A new care delivery model will be introduced, where a regular team of doctors and nurses will ensure coordination and continuity of care for patients.

New technology will also be introduced for patients to self-manage their conditions.

Services such as radiology, physiotherapy and podiatry will also be offered.

lydialam@sph.com.sg

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