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MOM Acts Against Unsafe Practices Involving Formwork Structures

Workplace safety and health
18 January 2014

  1. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is concerned about the recent spate of serious accidents caused by malpractices in erecting formwork structures1. We will step up worksite inspections to check on unsafe practices involving formwork structures from 20 January 2014. MOM has issued an advisory to Professional Engineers (PEs)2 on 18 January 2014 to remind them of their obligations in the design, construction and inspection of formwork structures (refer to Annex A for MOM’s advisory to PEs).
  2. Over the past week, two accidents involving formwork structures took place at separate construction worksites (please refer to Annex B for details of the two accidents). While the investigation into these accidents are in progress, preliminary findings showed that the formwork structures gave way during the concrete casting process, indicating that the structures were unable to support the load imposed on them during the casting process. It was fortunate that there were no serious injuries arising from these accidents. Such dangerous occurrences can have catastrophic consequences and result in significant loss of lives. It is imperative to weed out unsafe practices involving formwork structures.

    Inspections of construction worksites to be stepped up
  3. The stepped-up inspections will target formwork practices at construction worksites, such as unsafe design of formwork structures, improper erection of formwork structures, incompatible formwork components, and improper supervision and inspection of formwork structures. The enforcement effort will be carried out island-wide over two weeks. These are in addition to MOM’s regular checks on formwork structures as part of its construction safety inspections.
  4. Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Ministry of Manpower and Ministry of Education) Mr Hawazi Daipi, said, “The construction sector is a high-risk industry. Safety must be the top priority. We were fortunate that there were no serious injuries in the two accidents that occurred over the past week. But, contractors and PEs must give attention to safety practices involving formwork structures. MOM officers will be stepping up their inspections of worksites. We will take errant occupiers of worksites and employers to task. I urge all employers to fulfil your obligations to keep your workers safe.”

    Industry must play its part
  5. The Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council has also reminded the industry to play their part and enforce good formwork practices. Mr Jackson Yap, Chairman, WSH Council (Construction and Landscape) Committee, said, “Formwork is a high-risk activity requiring proper design and erection of structures, as well as stringent checks and tight supervision of the work procedures. While MOM can and does carry out inspections and enforcements, contractors and industry professionals independently must take proactive steps of their own and adopt good practices involving formwork structures. All of us, especially employers and industry professionals, have an obligation to ensure the safety and health of workers.”
1 Formwork structure includes the actual formwork, which is defined as any mould, surface, support or framing used to define the shape of concrete until the concrete is self-supporting, as well as the supporting falseworks, shores and any other support.

2 MOM’s Occupational Safety and Health Division has issued an advisory to all PEs to remind them of their obligations in the design, construction and inspection of formwork structures. In particular, the advisory highlights and states MOM’s expectations with regards to their duties as set out in the WSH Act and Part IX of the WSH (Construction) Regulations 2007.


Annex A - Advisory for professional engineers on formwork safety (18 January 2014)


Annex B - Recent formwork collapse accidents

  1. 10 January 2014: Formwork accident at Lian Soon Construction Pte Ltd’s worksite along Bishan Street 13

    On 10 January 2014, a formwork accident took place at Lian Soon Construction Pte Ltd’s worksite along Bishan Street 13. Preliminary findings show that a group of workers were carrying out concreting work for the second floor's slab of an indoor sports hall under construction when the support structure became unstable. Before the structure gave way, the group of workers left the affected area, but one of them was slightly injured as he lost his footing. The worker was conveyed to a medical clinic for treatment of minor injuries.
  2. 11 January 2014: Formwork accident at SH Design & Build Pte Ltd’s worksite along Yishun Industrial Street 1

    On 11 January 2014, a formwork accident took place at SH Design & Build Pte Ltd’s worksite along Yishun Industrial Street 1. Preliminary findings show that a group of workers were carrying out concreting work for the second floor's slab of a light industrial building under construction when the support structure started to sink. The group of workers then left the affected area and the structure later gave way. None of the workers were injured in the accident.