A coroner’s inquiry was opened on September 17 into the deaths of two workers at a construction site in Lentor, Singapore, where the North-South Corridor is being developed. The inquiry marks exactly two years since the accident occurred on September 17, 2024.

The victims, 38-year-old Indonesian national Heryanto Tan and 39-year-old Bangladeshi national Hossain Salim, died after an 11-tonne winch drum toppled on them during lifting operations. Tan was a site engineer, and Salim was a construction worker employed by VSL Singapore, the local arm of the Swiss specialist contractor VSL.

According to testimony from Station Inspector Lee Ren Hui of the Singapore Police Force (SPF), who led the police investigation, there was no suspicion of foul play in the incident. Senior investigation officer Hong Hui Fen from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) similarly stated that the ministry did not intend to take enforcement action relating to the accident.

On the morning of the accident, Tan, Salim, and a group of workers were assembling heavy sheave blocks—large pulley systems used to align the direction of the winch—onto the lower frame of the winch drum. The winch drum, measuring over two meters in width, was suspended by a mobile crane before being lowered onto two concrete blocks, each measuring one meter by one meter.

MOM’s investigation found that the winch drum was normally supported by four concrete blocks, suggesting fewer supports than usual were in place. Tan had instructed the crane operator to keep tension on the chain slings attached to the winch drum while it rested on the blocks, and also directed his workers to use a mechanical jack to prop up a gap that had developed between the sheave block and the winch drum frame. According to one worker’s account, Tan’s rationale for maintaining tension on the chain slings may have been to provide additional stability.

Work continued beneath and around the heavy machinery as the team bolted the sheave blocks onto the winch drum until they paused at 11:40 a.m. for lunch. During the break, the chain slings were removed in accordance with company policy to halt lifting operations at mealtime.

Work resumed at 1 p.m. without the chain slings supporting the winch drum, which remained resting solely on the two concrete blocks. Shortly after, at 1:10 p.m., Tan observed a gap re-emerging between the sheave block and the winch drum frame and directed a worker to release the mechanical jack, possibly to reposition it. The removal of the jack caused the winch drum to become unstable, slip off the supporting blocks, and topple, pinning both Tan and Salim underneath.

Two other workers sustained minor injuries but managed to escape the incident. A professional engineer retained by VSL later determined that the mechanical jack had inadvertently provided lateral support to the winch drum, and its removal led to the loss of stability.

Emergency responders from the Singapore Civil Defence Force pronounced Salim dead at the scene. Tan was found conscious but trapped below his waist and was transported to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, where he later died.

The coroner adjourned the hearing and will deliver findings at a later date.