Public Inquiry into Deadly Blast that Killed Three Migrant Workers in Singapore

The story of a Bangladeshi worker who narrowly escaped a deadly blast in February has come to light during a public inquiry into the incident that claimed the lives of three migrant workers. The worker, Imam, was not present at the site of the explosion because his boss had deployed him to other work sites due to his performance issues.

Imam revealed that his close friend and compatriot, Anis, was one of the workers who tragically lost their lives in the blast at the Stars Engrg workshop in Tuas. The explosion, caused by a combustible dust explosion involving potato starch powder used in production, resulted in the deaths of Anis, Marimuthu from India, and Shohel from Bangladesh.

The inquiry also highlighted several red flags leading up to the blast, including previous incidents of burned heaters, leaks, and fires at the workshop. The IC, chaired by Senior District Judge Ong Hian Sun, aims to determine the causes of the accident and assess if criminal proceedings should be initiated.

The public hearings, which will feature testimonies from witnesses and investigators, are open to attendance at the State Courts. The Ministry of Manpower has announced a second tranche of hearings in November to review recommendations for preventing similar incidents in the future.

The story serves as a reminder of the importance of workplace safety and the need for thorough investigations to prevent such tragedies from occurring again.