Forklift death: Victims family awarded SGD78,000 (USD56,529)

Singapore: In a second case in one month where a court overruled a decision of the Labour Commissioner to reject a compensation claim, a judge awarded SGD78,000 (USD56,529) to the widow and children of a worker who drowned when his forklift fell into the sea.

The 35-year-old victim was driving a forklift, when it" reversed and fell into the water at a shipping termin$'I in December 2005. His body was not found until hourS~ later. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) ordered the owner of the forklift to pay SGD78,624 (USD56,982) in compensation to the family of the deceased. The company appealed, contending that Mr. Ramu was not their employee, as he was hired by their foreman, who was not authorised to hire people. The company further asserted that the foreman had paid Mr. Ramu out of his own pocket and that he was not asked to use the forklift on that very day. The Labour Commissioner agreed with the company and rejected the claim.

The widow's appeal to the High Court was successful: Justice Choo stated that although the foreman was not authorised to hire people he led Mr. Ramu to believe he was. Moreover, it could not be established that Ramu knew that the foreman used his own money to pay him, and some evidence indicated that the forklift was required on the day of the accident.

Source: Straits Times, 31 March 2008
Asian Casualty Report 10th Edition June 2008 – Gen Re