Reviewing Safety Management of Contractors and Subcontractors at PSA’s Port Operations following Fatal Workplace Incident in September 2026
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns whether safety management and additional safeguards for contractors and subcontractors at PSA’s port operations would be reviewed following a fatal incident at Tuas Port, as asked by Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye to the Acting Minister for Manpower. In response, Ms Jasmin Lau stated that the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is investigating the incident, in which two workers died after a work platform dislodged from a quay crane into the sea. She noted that the operation of these work platforms at Tuas Port has been temporarily suspended until PSA completes a safety review of high-risk activities involving contractors. Additionally, the Maritime and Port Authority directed PSA to conduct a thorough review of safety-related work procedures across all its premises while PSA conducts its own internal probe. MOM affirmed that it holds employers and principal contractors fully accountable, will mandate additional safeguards if safety gaps are found, and will enforce firm action against non-compliant parties.
Transcript
91 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Acting Minister for Manpower following the fatal workplace incident at Tuas Port on 22 September 2026, whether the Ministry will review (a) the safety management of contractors and subcontractors at PSA's port operations; and (b) whether additional safeguards are required for high-risk activities involving such workers.
Ms Jasmin Lau: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) shares the Member's concern over the recent workplace incident at Tuas Port, where two workers died after a work platform carrying them to a vessel for stevedoring works dislodged from the quay crane and fell into the sea. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the two workers who lost their lives. MOM is investigating the cause of the incident.
As an immediate safeguard, the operation of these work platforms at Tuas Port has been put on hold, until PSA completes a review of its use of work platforms to carry workers, including how the safety of contractors and subcontractors carrying out such high-risk activities is managed. PSA is also conducting its own investigations into the incident and has been directed by the Maritime and Port Authority to conduct a thorough review of its safety-related work procedures at all PSA premises. While we are not able to comment on the outcome of ongoing investigations, MOM will not hesitate to require additional safeguards for PSA or more broadly for port operations, if the investigations reveal gaps in existing safety measures.
The loss of two lives is a tragedy that should not have happened. MOM holds employers and principal contractors fully accountable for the safety of all workers under their charge, including contractors and subcontractors carrying out high-risk activities. We will take firm action against any party found to have fallen short of their safety obligations. MOM will also ensure that the lessons from this incident are shared and applied across the industry, so that we do everything we can to prevent similar tragedies from occurring.